Raizen responds to Coach Pakbet's trust with masterful performance against EVOS SG

When Omega Esports found themselves again in the lower bracket, it was jungler Christian "Raizen" Sumagui who performed beyond his years despite playing in his first international tournament.

Raizen helped his squad finish off EVOS Singapore in dominant fashion at the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asian Cup (MSC) 2022 playoffs on Thursday.

In Game 2 of the series, he chose to go with a surprise Lancelot pick, a hero considered outside the current MLBB meta, and finished with a 6-1-10 KDA, piloting a 23-7 annihilation of the Singaporeans. He did not let-up in the close out Game 3 as he took MVP of the Game honors with a 7-1-6 KDA on Ling.

Omega coach Jomie "Pakbet" Abalos revealed that Raizen's picks were actually seldom used given their ban rate in the current MPL meta but expressed confidence in his wards' prowess to pull off these picks.

"Alam ko naman si Raizen kapag kaya niya 'yung hero, sasabihin niya talaga sa'kin. Kaya binitaw na namin 'yung Lance din niya kasi alam naming pagdating sa lower bracket, madisiplina kami," Coach Pakbet said.

("I know that when Raizen can play a hero, he tells me. That's why we allowed him to pick Lance because we know we're disciplined in the lower bracket.")

And Raizen's performance left nothing to be desired.

Despite Raizen being the only new replacement in a team that won last year's MSC championship, Coach Pakbet is happy with how he transformed his team's gameplay.

"Mas gumanda 'yung early game namin," he said about Raizen's impact when he joined the team.

"Nung pinasok namin si Raizen, medyo gumaan 'yung playstyle namin na pumunta kami ng early game para masabayan 'yung ibang teams."

("Our early game became better. When we inserted Raizen [into the lineup], our playstyle became easier in that we went to the early game to go toe-to-toe with other teams.")

Omega will next face Orange Esports in the lower bracket to dispute a spot in the lower bracket semifinals on Friday, June 17.

—MGP, GMA News