Team of the Week: OPL Split 1, Week 7

This column looks to name five of the highest performers across the competition each round, from a hyper-carry performance from the mid lane to a rock-at-the-top outing from a top laner or a perfectly played supporting role.

Swip3rR (MVP)

Brandon Holland – Chiefs Esports Club

The armoured titan in the top lane has been one of the most consistent performers in the Oceanic Pro League since its foundation more than four years ago, so it’s a small wonder that Brandon “Swip3rR” Holland is still locking in Most Valuable Player performances as 2019 rolls on.

Although Holland’s Saturday performance on Sion was what many OPL fans have come to expect from the Chiefs’ rock in the top lane, it was his Friday game on Kled that confirmed his MVP crown for the week. Swip3rR’s run on the Cantankerous Cavalier began just before the 10 minute mark when he knocked over his opposite laner to bag his opening kill.

From there, Holland ran away with his lead, bagging a double before dying in a massive four-for-two teamfight from the Chiefs that broke the game wide open and spiralled a 700 gold deficit into Swip3rR’s team’s favour. In the end, they closed out the 26 minute victory with a 13.1k gold advantage, and Holland cleaned house with six kills, nine assists and just a single death – the one that he copped to finish the double kill.

Spookz

Samuel Broadley – Order

Although Samuel Broadley’s outing on the reworked Nunu & Willump didn’t go as planned against the Chiefs on Friday evening, as he recorded a 2/3/2 scoreline in the 27 minute defeat, Spookz’s aggressive Aatrox outing the next evening confirmed his Team of the Week appearance for Week 7.
Broadley locked the jungle Aatrox in last during the second phase of picks for Order, and delivered his first ever professional match on the Darkin Blade with aplomb.

Picking up three of his eventual five kills in the first eleven minutes of the 33 minute clash, Spookz used that early gold injection to sow havoc in the jungle of the Dire Wolves, forcing Toby “UDYSOF” Horne onto the back foot and isolating the defending champions’ solo laners.

From there, Order were able to channel their focus onto their two carries in Simon “Swiffer” Papamarkos on Zoe and Ronan “Dream” Swingler on the late-game Vayne, and Spookz switched from his dangerous and deadly jungle invasion to a calculated flanking threat with ease. Although Spookz may not have dished out the most damage to champions, the veteran jungler’s ability to take his early lead and translate it into the team’s overall success proved to key to breaking Order’s six game losing streak, and potentially steady the ship overall as they continue to chase a gauntlet position in 2019.

Shok

Ari Greene-Young – Avant Gaming

After a few weeks of Avant Gaming finding their footing at the top of the table, the revelation of the season has returned to red-hot form, led by 2019’s mid lane breakout Ari “Shok” Greene-Young. The New Zealand youngster has continued to prove the league wrong about him, and this week was no different as Avant bagged a vital 2-0 to stay in the hunt for a strong seeding in the upcoming split-ending gauntlet.

On Friday evening Shok marched out a 1/0/6 performance on Yorick in the mid lane, with the flex pick delivering over 20k damage to objectives – 17.9k of which was on turrets. Shok’s turn on the Gravedigger changed the game, as he cleared the next highest turret damage in the game by 13.4k damage.

Then Shok reminded Oceania that he can play out a game on control mages too, downing champion mid laner Stephen “Triple” Li and the Mammoth roster with a 5/0/5 performance on Syndra. In a game that nearly threatened to go against Avant until past the 20 minute mark, Greene-Young’s control of the map and fights with the Dark Sovereign proved to be a major catalyst. When Shok is firing, the entire Avant Gaming outfit shines bright in 2019.

FBI

Victor Huang – Bombers

After being titled “the best player in the league” by the Oceanic Pro League’s official stream in the build-up to the Bombers-Mammoth clash, Victor “FBI” Huang had a lot to prove as he came up against Calvin “k1ng” Truong and Mitchell “Destiny” Shaw on Friday night.

Of course, the region’s current standout AD Carry proved more than up to the challenge as he dominated the marksman battle on Ezreal, recording an 8/0/4 statline and 23.9k damage to champions against k1ng’s 2.9k.

A similarly strong battle against Gravitas’ Julian “Raid” Skordos awaited him in his other match last weekend, but again FBI proved deserving of the title the OPL stream had bestowed upon him, locking in Lucian and claiming five kills and six assists as he died just two times in the 34 minute victory. Although the 20-8 win over Gravitas mainly played out as a snowballed game for the Bombers, Huang will had to prove he could navigate attacks from Sejuani, Yasuo and Galio as he controlled the objective tempo of the game.

Rogue

Jake Sharwood – Bombers

The Bombers captain Jake “Rogue” Sharwood has been having an excellent split, leading his team from the front on a handful of engage champions and pulling out the flex picks when called on.

This round was no different as Sharwood played out two victories on Tahm Kench and Alistair, combining with fellow Team of the Week recipient and bot lane duo FBI to stretch the Essendon club’s winning streak to ten straight games.

After denying current champion ADC k1ng a chance to carry on his Kalista pick, Rogue shadowed his Bombers teammates as the River King and provided a solid grey-health platform for FBI to carry on Ezreal. Overall, the bot lane duo combined for 12 assists and nine kills, of which Sharwood clocking up eight of the assists.

With the OPL gauntlet now looming, Rogue has clicked into high gear and is sure to be guiding the Bombers from behind the scenes as their leading voice through his captaincy. Look to the Bombers commander in coming weeks as the team looks to continue their winning streak deep into double digits and gun for the Oceanic title.

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The Oceanic Pro League returns on Friday afternoon, with a battle between Gravitas and Avant Gaming, kicking off at 4pm AEDT.

Disagree with the list? Feel another player had a stronger performance and deserved the recognition? Feel free to voice your concerns to @everin_oce – he loves chatting about the best players of the week.