Welcome to Snowball’s OPL Team of the Week!
Eight weeks down for the season and the race for first place is still up for grabs, while playoff spots are still being fought for as well. It’s looking like it could come down to the wire! This week’s team is star-studded and helped their teams find success over the weekend.
BioPanther
Brandon Alexander – Dire Wolves
In what could be described as a textbook display on Gangplank, BioPanther was able to get an early farm lead, create pressure, and roam mid lane as he pushed his influence across the map with split-pushing and his ultimate. While the Gangplank was found split-pushing at times, it should be noted that effectively using his global ultimate meant BioPanther was able to participate in fifteen of the Dire Wolves’ eight kills through the match. Finishing the game deathless and with a 700 gold bounty was the icing on the cake.
A solid game two from BioPanther showed he certainly isn’t one of the hungriest crocodiles on the Rift, as he had to patiently wait to get involved on Renekton, but the pressure points he created on the map rewarded him with turrets in the solid game.
Only
Jordan Middleton – Chief Esports Club
Only was able to be surprisingly influential early game on his Karthus pick, participating in a four-man dive four minutes into the game to get his team ahead. His proactive objective control on the Karthus enabled the Chiefs to steamroll through the Mammoth line-up.
Only continued his great form on Saturday, picking up first blood in what now has become a recurring trend. Only went from strength to strength as he managed to pick up a solo kills on a top laner and secured a host of neutral objectives. Only’s constant pick potential coming out from the jungle helped guide the Chiefs to a solid victory and he finished the weekend 2-0.
Ry0ma
Tommy Le – Bombers
Ry0ma had a performance that had Jake “Spawn” Tiberi lauding Ry0ma as “import ready.”
It’s not hard to see why. Ry0ma flexed his champion mastery on Akali, taking down the top lane Corki between towers in a one vs one. Ry0ma continued to pick his opponents apart like he was playing with his food, but unfortunately for the mid laner, his 10/3/5 scoreline wasn’t enough to get his team over the line.
Game two: Ry0ma was styling on the Yasuo and I believe it’s about time we make the calls that Ry0ma is smurfing in the OPL. He finished the game 7/0/3. It was the type of performance that reminds you of the Yasuo that bodied your team in solo queue, and you’re left wondering why when your team picks the same champ they power feed.
Raes
Quin Korebrits – Chiefs Esports Club
Raes had a sensational last few weeks. His ability to press early leads in lane to become a turret-plate goblin, and then use these leads to drive the Chiefs to victory, has been exceptional, and game one this week was no different. He collected two plates and was 2-0 up, within the opening four minutes.
Rae’s second game of the weekend wasn’t as explosive. He played his role, got the job done, and locked in a deathless game. He finished the Saturday evening win with a 450 gold bounty and was able to snowball his incremental advantages into a substantial lead.
Rogue
Jake Sharwood – Bombers
Rogue opened his weekend with a solid game on Tahm Kench. The Bombers’ wins were very much the Ry0ma show, but Rogue was still able to have his own highlight play dubbed “saving private Ryan” by Zack “Rusty” Pye when he was able to bail out his AD carry from almost certain doom. A very solid individual performance, only marred by a shaky final five minutes as the team slipped at the final hurdle.
Against Mammoth Rogue was able to default back to comfort, picking up the Thresh despite coming up against the counter match-up of Tahm Kench. Rogue looked comfortable on the Rift, with his biggest play coming from a three-man push in the mid lane which ended up breaking the outer turret.
With the seasons end looming, tweet at us who you think will win @snowballesports Split 2 MVP? Remember to use the #TOTW.
