Aurora concluded their campaign in the Swiss stage of the Elite League last night with a commanding 2-1 victory over Team Secret. This win solidifies Aurora position as the second and final team from Southeast Asia to progress to the round-robin stage, as its rival, Talon Esports, fell short in the crucial series against Heroic earlier this morning.
Prior to the showdown against TS, Aurora faced a huge blow as its star player, Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon, had to hastily depart for Thailand yesterday morning. In a strategic move, the management team enlisted the talents of Dota prodigy Alan “Satanic” Galyamov from Yellow Submarine to stand in for this pivotal match.
Satanic’s integration into the Aurora roster prompted head coach Lee “SunBhie” Jeong-jae to implement a subtle tactical adjustment, moving Artem “lorenof” Melnick to pos 1 and Satanic to pos 2. While this modification initially sparked skepticism among their fans, it ultimately proved instrumental in outmaneuvering TS’s strategies.
The opening game unfolded in a flurry of intensity, with both sides fiercely vying for control. However, as the clock ticked towards the 15-minute mark, Aurora found itself struggling to match TS’s dynamic gameplay, orchestrated by the formidable duo of Clement “Puppey” Ivanov and Teng “Kordan” Tjin Yao.
Though Aurora boys managed to bridge the score gap around the 23rd minute through lorenof’s aggressive maneuvers on Pangolier, their momentum was short-lived as Kordan’s Timbersaw grew increasingly dominant as the match progressed. Overwhelmed by TS’s relentless aggression, Aurora conceded defeat with a scoreline of 15-25 at the 39th minute.
Undeterred by the setback, the Aurora players remained resolute in their pursuit of victory as they entered the second game. This time around, lorenof grabbed Timbersaw which gave his team a headache in the previous match. With support from Satanic and Anucha “Jabz” Jirawong’s adept coordination on Naga Siren – Enigma, the trio executed a devastating assault on TS. Aurora’s strategic dominance culminated in a commanding triumph, forcing a GG call from TS with a resounding scoreline of 39-16 at the 54th minute.
Buoyed by their triumph, lorenof once again demonstrated his prowess on Timbersaw, while Satanic secured his signature pick, Morphling. Despite a spirited effort from TS in the early game, Aurora gradually gained momentum and seized control after the 21st minute mark. Stand-in duo Lorenof and Satanic relentlessly pursued TS’s players, accumulating kill after kill. Ultimately, Aurora closed the deciding round with a resounding win of 29-13 by the 34th minute.
Aurora’s thrilling triumph has sent waves of excitement through SEA, particularly as it catapults the team into the star-studded Group B of the round-robin stage. Rubbing shoulders with heavyweights like Team Liquid, Gaimin Gladiators, Tundra Esports, and Xtreme Gaming, the anticipation is palpable among Aurora’s fans. With lorenof and Satanic’s standout performances contributing to this victory, fans are certainly anticipating their continued presence on the team.
