Bellamy “Lolsie” Yeov, the roamer for NIP Flash, commended Filipino standouts Jankurt “KurtTzy” Matira and Jaymark “Hadess” Lazaro for their significant contributions to the team’s impressive performance at the 2024 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Midseason Cup (MSC).
This, after NIP Flash thwarted a resurgent challenge from the Selangor Red Giants Thursday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, putting the resurgent team out of the MSC finals picture.
Early Qualification to Knockouts
With the support of KurtTzy and Hadess, the MPL Singapore champions became the first team to qualify for the knockout stage. They dominated Group A, sweeping FireFlux Esports and RRQ Akira before drawing against EVOS Glory, finishing with a 2-1-0 record.
Lolsie highlighted the substantial impact of their Filipino imports, noting that KurtTzy and Hadess have greatly improved the team’s macro play strategies.
“So basically, them coming from the Philippines, they taught us a lot of macro gameplay,” said Lolsie. “In Singapore, we used to play brawl. So with their addition [to the team], we can have more strategies to play definitely as seen in our group stage [matches]. We can do macro, and even when the Lord comes in, we now know how to use the Lord.”
Stellar Performances
KurtTzy stood out on Day 2, earning the Star of the Day title with an average of 10 assists per game and a team fight participation rate of 77.8%. Meanwhile, Hadess maintained a steady presence from the jungler position.
KurtTzy, a former ECHO star, showcased his exceptional skills with Pharsa in their sweep of RRQ Akira, ending the series with 20 assists, six kills, and just three deaths against the Brazilian team. He attributed his improved play to maintaining a positive mindset throughout the tournament, saying, “It was our positive mindset. Whatever we do, it seemed as if our teammates were ready to learn.
NIP Flash will face off against the HomeBois to determine one Finals slot in the biggest MLBB esports event ever, with the champion taking home the lion’s share of the US$1 million prize pool.
