EPT
Finals
CJ ENTUS (7-3, +9. Indiv: 19-10. Team 5-5)
vs
MBCgame HERO (6-2, -2. Indiv: 18-16. Team. 3-7)
Let’s HYPE!
All stats are from 2006 Proleague Term 2 regular season only
Terran
CJ:
Xellos[yG]: 4-2 (Indiv), 0-1 (Team)
Iris[gm]: 3-2 (Indiv), 1-0 (Team)
DArKeLf[S.siR]: 0-0
TheManiaMST: 1-1 (Team)
Ban-Suk Lee*: 0-0 (Team)
*Gamer tag not registered at Kespa webpage.
Whether called G.O. or ENTUS, one thing has been a constant throughout this team's history: Xellos. Xellos is the face of CJ. Although the Ace is Savior right now, Xellos is the one at the center of it all, and his trademark poker-faced consistency is the rock which the team can rely on. After a slight slump early last season, Xellos seems to be rounding into form, just in time for the finals. Will he bring glory one more time to CJ? He is supported by Iris, who has tried to fill in the shoes of the departed Midas. Iris has had his share of struggles, and he seems to always be on the verge of becoming an elite player, yet just short. Iris has no real weakness, as he is pretty balanced in each matchup. Yet he doesn't excel at anything either. He's colorless that way, which is both his strength and weakness. Still, he can take a game off anybody on anyday, so expect Iris to be another card in the deck for CJ. CJ has added three more terrans to the roster for the finals, presumably because they will need an extra Terran for the two teamplay games. DarkElf is the joker in the deck - he has competent 1v1, but will Coach Cho take the gamble? To summarize, this is what we can expect from CJ's Terran line: Xellos and Iris for a powerful 1v1 combo, and one of the Ts to fill a 2v2 spot.
MBCgame:
Light[Alive]: 5-4 (Indiv)
Sea[Shield]: 3-2 (Indiv), 0-2 (Team)
910[Ete]: 0-2 (Team)
min_regi: 0-0
So I am introducing HERO's lineup for the third week in a row. By now, these guys should be familiar. Light, though lacking big-stage experience, is the ace of the team - provided he keeps improving his TvT (like against Xellos in the GomTV MSL). Light has only faced the most top quality opposition in the playoffs, so it's understandable that he lost to Daezang and Jaedong. But he pulled through with a win over Free in an ace match. Sea is simply unstoppable in the Playoffs. He is 5-0 in the playoffs, because ice water runs through his veins. And 910 is - holy shit - a capable 2v2er who was responsible for bringing MBCgame back from the brink of elimination two weeks in a row. All in all, it's a balanced lineup with two top-level 1v1 Terran aces, which is more that any team can ask for. With July struggling and Pusan inconsistent, it will fall on the shoulders of these young Terrans to bring home the wins against the toughest of foes.
Zerg
CJ:
Savior[gm]: 7-2 (Indiv), 0-1 (Team)
Jy: 0-0
OverSky: 0-1 (Indiv), 4-1 (Team) - Team Captain
MinGu: 0-1 (Indiv)
Once in a while, a player comes and dominates all of progaming, often changing the paradigm of gameplay. Boxer... oov... Nada... and now Savior. That's right, Savior is on that level of domination right now. Armed with a complete mastery of 3-hatch play, he has reached a 70% overall win percentage, which is unheard of these days. What more can I say? He's a monster, and if the finals goes to the ace match - there is no doubt as to who will step up. CJ's remaining Zerg line is surprisingly balanced, with a couple 2v2 experts in Oversky and Mingu supporting 1v1 players Savior and Jy. Oversky is 4-1 in teamplay this season, and expect him to make his mark in the finals. Jy is the realy wildcard here. He's a very capable individual match card, and we all remember his debut against Boxer in the ODT a few months back. It was after being forced to the ropes by Jy that Boxer re-awakened his inner self and starting owning again. Which goes to show how worthy Jy is. But Jy has made exactly zero appearances in the proleagues, instead focusing on the OSL, which he had only mediocre results. But he is definitely one of the most promising up and coming Zergs (along with Cool) and he is not to be underestimated when he takes the stage in the finals.
MBCgame:
July[z-zone]: 1-2 (Indiv), 1-3 (Team)
Saint[z-zone]: 2-0 (Indiv), 2-3 (Team)
Shark[gm]: 1-3 (Indiv)
Thezerg[Alive]: 0-2 (Team)
MBC Zergs are all slumping together at the same time, which is not a good sign for the finals. July can't seem to hit his stride, and he's been losing wherever he goes. His only recent win has been against Child on a ZvZ, meanwhile losing against Free in the playoffs and in the 2v2 during the Semis, in addition to lacklustre performances against Casy and GoodFriend in the OSL. July is as much the Face of HERO as Xellos is to CJ, and it would mean a lot to MBCgame for July to get back to his take-no-prisoners, owning ways. It would mean more than just getting an ace card back - it would be a leadership boost for this young team. Saint and Shark both have shown flashes of brilliance before, but cannot be consistently relied on. They are both capable players who you shouldn't be surprised to see in an 1v1 as a sniper - and don't be surprised if they win their matches either. On the other hand, it won't be big news if they lose. Don't forget that Saint is also a feared 2v2 player with Bisu. And there's TheZerg, who quietly has won to straight playoff 2v2s with 910, and he is the only HERO zerg with any wins in the postseason. Just goes to show that he is just as worthy as his more famous teammates.
Protoss
CJ:
Much[gm]: 5-2 (Indiv)
Rage[3.33]: 3-2 (Team)
ForU: 0-0
CJ's Protoss line is a tad inbalanced. You have Much, an absolute PvT (60%) and PvP (75%) terror. Yet his overall PvZ is 12-21 for a 36% percentage. On the other hand you have Rage, who has solid 2v2 fundamentals and who has a better PvZ than PvT. And, of course, the immortal Papa Bear ForU. Who knows what the hell that mofo is capable of. With this capable but shaky lineup, it's all up to the coach to place these guys in the best position: Much against a T or P is a sure win, but avoid having him face a Zerg. Rage will most likely be on tap for a 2v2. It's all up to Coach Cho to put his protoss players in the best position to succeed.
MBCgame
PuSan[S.G]: 2-3 (Indiv), 0-1 (Team) – Team Captain
Bisu[Shield]: 4-2 (Indiv), 2-1 (Team)
JuniToss: 0-0
n.Die_Jaehoon: 1-0 (Team)
And again we meet HERO's undeniably charismatic Protoss line. The inconsistent Pusan, who on his best day can spectacularly beat GGPlay and Anytime (Pusan's been the Ace Killer for MBC these playoffs). On the other hand, he can lose pretty spectacularly as well. HERO is just happy that the awesome Pusan is the one who has been showing up for the postseason. They'll be hoping that it happens again, one last time, for finals glory. The handsome Bisu is another rough diamond who plays with such brash bravado, but he could learn to play a little smarter. No tricks from that one - just brute force. Still, it makes him an effective player in both 1v1 and 2v2, so he'll be ready. JuniToss remains a possible surprise, as always.
By the way,
HERO Postseason Results:
Light: 1-2 (L Daezang, W Free, L Jaedong)
Sea: 2-0 (W BackHo[WHITE], W Hazin[saM])
July: 0-1 (L Free,)
Pusan: 2-0 (W GGPlay, W Anytime)
Bisu: 1-1 (L fOrGG_V_, W Anytime)
910 / TheZerg: 2-0
Bisu / Saint: 0-1
n.Die_Jaehoon / July: 0-1
Preview Part 2!
