NAOS Esports remains in VCL 2024 SEA contention after all-Filipino clash vs. ZOL

NAOS Esports remains in VCL 2024 SEA contention after all-Filipino clash vs. ZOL

In the clash between two of the Philippines’ best in VALORANT Esports, NAOS soldiered on to be the last team standing for the flag.

NAOS Esports progresses to the VALORANT Challengers 2024 SEA: Split 3 lower bracket semifinals after sweeping ZOL Esports on Thursday evening.

Xavier “xavi8k” Juan stepped up for the number one-seeded PH team with 44 kills and 18 assists with Sova, while Jerome “Mojer” Literal tallied 35 with Neon.

ZOL only managed to score one map in a quick 35-minute affair in Haven as NAOS entered the break 11-1 including a solid 7-0 opener.

With ZOL getting round 8, NAOS scored six more wins. Emmanuel “jEEE” Buenavidez became the former’s bright spot with 11 kills, while xavi8k went berserk for the latter with a 20/4/11 performance.

It was a different story in Game 2 as ZOL fought hard with a 9-3 lead entering the break including eight straight map wins in Sunset.

However, they only managed to score three more maps after the break with NAOS getting 11 of the next 14 rounds, including a 5-0 run to deny ZOL of a supposed decider in Split.

Three NAOS players scored 20 or more kills as xavi8k took 24, Emmanuel “Emman” Morales tallying 23, and Johnty “JA” Arone scored 20.

Franz Kevin “kevzii” Dingal stepped up with 22 kills and Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza took 21 but was put to naught as ZOL failed to close the game after a 12-9 lead in Round 21.

NAOS will next face Indonesia’s Alter Ego, who defeated Thailand outfit FULL SENSE with a 2-0 sweep.