Heroes rise from the ashes in ‘Heroes of the Storm’ SEA Summer Regional

After weeks of nonstop combat, our “Heroes of the Storm” teams Renovatio and Renovatio – The Resistance made it to the Southeast Asia Summer Regional. And while they had proven themselves worthy of representing our country in battle, their journey to Sweden meant having to contend with the toughest players from Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The SEA Summer Regional took place on May 21 and 22, 2016. The teams present were Singapore’s Relics and Resurgence, Malaysia’s Black Sheep 5 and Sabun Gaming, Thailand’s Hot Head Gaming and Greedisgood9999+, and our very own Renovatio and Renovatio – The Resistance, who were the top two teams from the May 14 Philippines National Finals.

Our teams were composed of the following players:

Renovatio:
John “Harharrr” Ichikawa (Warrior)
Neil “vyy” San Juan (Flex)
Giovanni “Hyskoa” Ong (Assassin)
Ronel “Stronger” Tan (Support)
Kieron “JumpyLion” Goli (Flex)

Renovatio – The Resistance:
Winston “MiseryProx” Hernaez (Tank/Assassin)
Hong Ju “Asurai” Lee (Flex)
Willy Ferdinand “Four” Lapidario (Support)
Bien Carlo “Shotiness” Borras (Assassin)
Otchie “MiLovesPoro” Pascual (Tank)
Miguel “Kaijah” Grande-Smith (Flex)


DAY ONE

On May 21, each team faced three competitors. The results of the Philippine teams’ battles were as follows:

Renovatio (2) vs. Hot Head Gaming (0)
Renovatio (0) vs. Relics (2)
Renovatio (2) vs. Black Sheep 5 (0)

With 2 wins and 1 loss, Renovatio moved onwards to day two.

Renovatio – The Resistance (0) vs. Greedisgood9999+ (2)
Renovatio – The Resistance (0) vs. Resurgence (2)
Renovatio – The Resistance (0) vs. Sabun Gaming (2)

With 3 losses, Renovatio – The Resistance were eliminated from the tournament.

When day one ended, Renovatio stood our only hope for a Philippine SEA Summer Regional victory. At the very top of the tourney were Relics and Greedisgood9999+, who were both undefeated.

You can watch the Twitch stream of day one here.


DAY TWO

The Philippines’ prospects looked grim as the first battle of May 22 came to a close with Sabun Gaming defeating Renovatio 1-0. This placed Renovatio in Losers Round 1.

In Winners Round 2, Relics thwarted Sabun Gaming, while Greedisgood9999+ thrashed Resurgence. As Relics and Greedisgood9999+ proceeded to the Semifinals, both Sabun Gaming and Resurgence moved to the Losers Round to join Renovatio.

The results of Renovatio’s battles in the first two Losers Rounds were as follows:

Losers Round 1: Renovatio (2) vs. Resurgence (1)
Losers Round 2: Renovatio (2) vs. Sabun Gaming (0)

In the Semifinals, Relics defeated Greedisgood9999+ 2-0, sending Greedisgood9999+ to the Losers bracket to face Renovatio. The result of that match was as follows:

Losers Round 3: Renovatio (2) vs. Greedisgood9999+ (0)

Renovatio’s victory ensured them a place in the Final round, and a fight against longtime rivals Relics – the very team that conquered them the previous day.
 

FINALS – PART 1

The Finals was a best-of-three series.


Match 1: Dragon Shire

After several minutes of intense fighting, Relics seized the Dragon Knight, which allowed them to exert pressure on every lane. Despite Relics’ experience lead, Renovatio managed to eliminate all but one Relics hero in a mid-lane clash. Relics retaliated, wiping out Renovatio, which allowed them to capture the Dragon Knight and destroy all of Renovatio’s forward forts. Relics then focused on the posterior middle fort, destroying it and killing several Renovatio heroes. Once more, the chances of a Philippine victory looked grim as Relics claimed the first match.

Relics: 13 kills, Lv19 vs. Renovatio: 9 kills, Lv17


Match 2: Cursed Hollow

As Renovatio collected their second tribute, they slaughtered three Relics heroes. The trio of Li-Ming (Hyskoa), Rehgar (Stronger), and Tyrael (Harharr) then stole a boss from Relics. As the boss crushed Relics’ lower fort, Renovatio seized an upper-lane boss and their third tribute. With Relics cursed, Renovatio easily laid waste to Relics’ top-lane forts.

Later, with Abathur’s (vyy) assistance, Illidan (JumpyLion) Metamorphosed and slaughtered Relics’ Lt. Morales. Renovatio then grabbed the top-lane boss. In full force, Renovatio marched down the top lane and into Relics’ base. In their effort to defend their core, Relics’ Tychus deployed his Drakken Laser Drill – but to no avail. As Abathur cloned Illidan, Illidan Metamorphosed once more for maximum damage. Relics’ core was reduced to dust within seconds for a decisive Renovatio victory.

Renovatio: 7 kills, Lv16 vs. Relics: 5 kills, Lv15


Match 3: Tomb of the Spider Queen

After calling their Webweavers, Relics harassed several Renovatio forts. Following Renovatio’s summoning of their own Webweavers, Relics’ Zeratul cast Void Prison, which led to the death of E.T.C. (Harharr). Still, Renovatio was able to destroy Relics’ anterior lower-lane fort.

Renovatio mobilized the Webweavers a second time, causing the fall of Relics’ forward mid-lane fort. As Renovatio picked off several Relics heroes and demolished their top-lane fort, Relics summoned their Webweavers. In the succeeding showdown, E.T.C. used Mosh Pit on Zeratul, leading the latter’s death. After summoning the Webweavers a third time, Renovatio wrecked Relics’ posterior lower-lane fort. Relics summoned their own Webweavers, but not before Renovatio claimed their remaining mid-lane fort. Renovatio killed four Relics heroes, then swept into their base to smash their core.

Renovatio: 12 kills, Lv21 vs. Relics: 5 kills, Lv18


Renovatio won with a score of 2-1 in their favor.


FINALS – PART 2

Both Renovatio and Relics needed to win one more best-of-three series to cement complete victory.


Match 1: Dragon Shire

After summoning the Dragon Knight and several mercenaries, Renovatio disabled Relics’ forward lower-lane fort. Afterwards, Renovatio mauled three Relics heroes, then captured the Dragon Knight again. Relics’ anterior mid-lane fort crumbled as a result. Renovatio proceeded to kill two Relics heroes and thrash their remaining forward fort.

As Renovatio wrecked Relics’ posterior lower-lane fort, Sonya (JumpyLion) killed Relics’ Raynor. At a confrontation at the upper shrine, however, Relics killed all but one Renovatio hero. Afterwards, a lower lane clash cost Renovatio two of their number. They later retaliated, taking down four Relics heroes. Renovatio pounded on the core, but the remaining Relics hero exterminated vyy (Sylvanas) and Rehgar (Stronger), forcing Tychus (Hyskoa) to retreat. After recuperating, Renovatio captured the Dragon Knight, then renewed their assault on the core. This time, Relics could not prevent their defeat.

Renovatio: 12 kills, Lv20 vs. Relics: 7 kills, Lv20


Match 2: Cursed Hollow

Renovatio secured the first tribute, but Relics, in seizing the second, offed three Renovatio heroes, then flattened their forward top-lane fort. Relics seized another tribute, captured two bosses, then destroyed Renovatio’s anterior mid-lane fort.

After gathering a third tribute and cursing Renovatio, Relics squashed Renovatio’s forward bottom-lane fort. Later, they destroyed Renovatio’s posterior upper-lane fort. Relics then captured a boss and some siege giants, bulldozed Renovatio’s posterior lower-lane fort, and took down their core.

Relics: 10 kills, Lv17 vs. Renovatio: 3 kills, Lv16


Match 3: Infernal Shrines

After several clashes, Renovatio destroyed Relics’ forward bottom-lane fort and eliminated their Punisher, then crushed their forward top-lane fort. Using Lt. Morales’ Medivac Dropship, Relics ambushed Renovatio at the upper shrine, costing Renovatio three heroes and Relics two. Later, Relics annihilated three Renovatio heroes at a clash for the bottom shrine. This allowed them to summon their Punisher and obliterate Renovatio’s forward lower-lane fort.

While Sylvanas (vyy) exerted pressured on Relics’ posterior top-lane fort, four Relics heroes faced off against four Renovatio heroes at the middle lane. The brawl resulted in a stalemate, but it would later resume to cost Relics three heroes, and Renovatio two. Renovatio then summoned a Punisher, leveled Relics’ forward mid-lane fort and slaughtered three Relics heroes. Afterwards, fighting erupted at the upper shrine, costing Relics four heroes. Relics found themselves helpless as Renovatio crushed their posterior top-lane fort, and finally, their core.

Renovatio: 15 kills, Lv21 vs. Relics: 12 kills, Lv20


Renovatio won with a score of 2-1 in their favor – earning them the title of SEA Summer Regional champions.

You can watch the Twitch stream of day two here.


Renovatio – Once more, our SEA champion!
 

Renovatio suffered some early losses, but they fought their way out of the Losers bracket to face and defeat their nemesis, Relics, in the Finals. With their victory, Renovatio has successfully defended their championship title, and will once again be representing Southeast Asia on the global stage.

Renovatio is set to meet the world’s greatest “Heroes of the Storm” teams at the DreamHack Summer event to be held at Jonkoping, Sweden, from June 18 to 20. With a $500,000 prize pool, and the title of Summer Global champion to be won, we can be sure every team will be bringing their best to the fore. — TJD, GMA News