After a rocky start with 2 consecutive losses in VCS Spring 2022, SBTC Esports is making a strong comeback with incredibly impressive form. The first highlight was the surprising yet spectacular victory against GAM Esports, a team that SE had never won a game against since its establishment.
Following that, SE secured its first points in VCS Spring 2022 by defeating Luxury Esports. In the SEA Games 31 qualifiers for League of Legends, the “Pink Chick” continues to maintain its unbeaten record by clinching 3 more victories, virtually ensuring a spot in the decisive round.
With 5 consecutive wins across all competitions, SE has somewhat satisfied fans with a roster full of potential. However, there are still some doubts about the strength of the “circus” in the current season, and whether this is enough to instill confidence in fans for a more successful season. Specifically, the goal is to reach the top 4 in VCS Spring 2022 or even higher, securing a spot at SEA Games 31.
The first noticeable point is that SE has found an ideal lineup with nPer, Spot, 2T, Celebrity, and Palette. Among these, all 3 newcomers are gradually proving their abilities and securing their positions, with Spot being the most impressive, who has been absent from the top League of Legends tournament in Vietnam for many years.
Once considered a potential successor to SofM or Levi in Vietnam’s Jungle role, Spot has made a significant effort to overcome the tough period when faced with penalties, followed by a hard tryout in VCS B. Now, upon returning to VCS, this 2000-born player has maintained excellent mechanics, and with his inherent game sense, he quickly caught up with the competitive pace after just a few matches. Compared to his direct competitor DNK, Spot is considered to be calmer, always making precise decisions in team fights. Numerous times this season, Spot has been the driving force behind SE’s victories.
Next up is the surprise from rookie 2T. This Mid Laner has only had 2 matches of experience in VCS and brought a lot of doubts to SE fans, especially after a disastrous performance in the previous games. However, 2T unexpectedly transformed in the following matches and became a new explosive factor in SE’s lineup.
With 2T, Coach Sergh clearly has more options in the draft phase. Not only can he use pure mages like Ryze, Vex, Veigar,… but SE’s Mid Lane rookie can also play well with champions like Akali, Irelia, or even Vladimir. His wide champion pool and confidence have brought a fresh breeze to SE in their recent winning streak.
In the Bot Lane, Celebrity has always been a solid pillar for the entire team. With pressure from young talent Vinboiz, it is clear that the “international AD carry” is also making great efforts to maintain his form. Meanwhile, Palette is increasingly getting in sync with the whole team. At the same time, this Support’s shot-calling ability has provided SBTC with something they severely lacked last season.
Player nPer is still showing himself to be a more reliable choice than rookie Simon in the Top Lane, especially when using his signature champion Gwen. However, the limited champion pool of this player is still something that SE fans are concerned about.
Overall, SE has enough potential to become a strong team in VCS Spring this year and achieve their set goals. However, they still have much work to do to prove that their recent performance is not just a temporary phase.
Besides the surprising victory against GAM, the opponents that SE defeated include the out-of-form LX and the two youthful teams of TS and TF. They also faced many disadvantages in certain games, revealing several weaknesses in both laning and game execution.
Ahead of SE are tougher tests, notably the encounters with Cerberus Esports and Saigon Buffalo in this week’s VCS Spring 2022 matches. If they can secure any wins in these two matches, or at least show good performances, SE can certainly reassure fans and be recognized as a strong team, a real force in VCS.