Sorry for this late post. I’ve been updating both at my Facebook Page and the official Ragnarok Facebook page on match results for Team Philippines. Yesterday was the start of the competitions for RWC 2010 here in Jakarta. After getting good pairings, me and the team awoke with enthusiasm to face the tough road ahead.

The day started at 10am where all the competitors gathered at the JITEC, the Jakarta International Event and Convention center. There, after a short program and welcome speech by VIPs of LYTO, the host for the event and of course, Gravity, it was the parade of teams.

Our match vs. Brazil was the first game for the day. It’s quite sad because both teams are Level Up! Teams (we have operations in Brazil). Here are the details. Each elimination match was best-of-three. Anyone can view the games live via Internet Streaming on our LIVE Blog page (thanks to Shiro and to LU Web Head Kevin Codamon for making things happen!)

Philippines vs. Brazil (12 noon)

• Game 1 – After a back and forth “dance” in the overlapping LPs, Team PH were trying to see how good the defense of their opponent. Once they got an Asura kill from a wayward Brazilian, it was kill after kill. Match was over in less than 7 minutes.
• Game 2 – Game 2 was the opposite of game 1. Brazil was immediately on the offensive and they focus-fired the PH Champion. It was a downward spiral after that. Brazil wiped out team PH. Boy! This is getting scary. We might actually lose, I was telling myself. Philippines 1, Brazil 1. Final game ahead.
• Game 3 – I went up the stage to boost the morale of the kids. I told them that whatever happens, it will be alright and I assured them that me, GM Shiro and the rest of the LU team there with them were behind them 100%. I told them to kick ass! Game 3 was a mirror of game 1 as the team launched themselves aggro as ever. Tearing into Brazil’s defense, they immediately took down the Paladin. Without the devo, our Champion felled one opponent after another. Team Philippines advances to Round 2 to face France! Woot!

Philippines vs. France (2:45PM)

• Too bad I was in the Marketing forum meeting so I wasn’t able to cover this. But we won 2-0 and advanced to the Semi-Finals with Japan.

Philippines vs. Japan (7:00pm)

• Game 1 – This is a grudge match since Japan beat us last year during the finals of RWC 2009. Japan was quick to the punch and secured the center of the tournament area, hoping to push Team PH into a corner. But we turned things around and managed to push back Japan. The first 2 Asuras from our Champ killed 2 Japanese in the opening salvo. 3 minutes later, it was a wipe-out! Philippines 1 – Japan 0.
• Game 2 – Now this was a surprise. We actually got the first kill. But Japan managed to turn things around and got through Philippines’ defenses. After most of our guys became frozen, Japan’s Champion tore down our guys one by one. Philippines 1 – Japan 1.
• Game 3 – In the first minute, no was daring to make a move into the good defense by either team. Japan pushed us back almost into a corner. They got an Asura through and one Filipino fell. A couple of seconds later, another one fell. After that, Japan methodically took out the rest. Philippines 1 – Japan 2. Japan now advances into the Finals vs. the winner of the Thailand vs. Taiwan fight.

Team Naked was devastated. Moved into tears. Shiro and I told them that it was alright. What was important was that they gave it their best shot. Maybe this year ain’t our year, but to us, they are true heroes and champions in their own right. There’s still the battle for 3rd tomorrow. Consistently getting a “place” in RWC for our country is a BIG achievement. We also got the First Blood in our battle vs. Japan, something to be proud of since they are the world champions.

So, in behalf of all the GMs, Level Up and for every Filipino RO player, we SALUTE you, TEAM PHILIPPINES!

You make us proud! Keep up the fight!

RELATED LINKS AND PHOTO UPDATES

• Live streaming of matches
• Official LYTO Indonesia Match Results
• Photos: Match Pairing Draws
• Photos: Saturday
• Photos: PH vs. Japan

For other hot RWC 2010 updates, be a Fan of my Facebook Fanpage now! Thanks!

Rok On!

Team Armada, the official Philippine Team to the 2007 Ragnarok World Championships just beat Indonesia 2-0 in their first assignment today and then went on to take down Brazil 2-1. In a twist of fate, Team Brazil, also sponsored by Level Up, meets up with our representatives in a match that would take the winner to the semi-finals (most likely with South Korea) tomorrow, July 21.

Wauks blogs about the details of the match: “The first match was quick, as Team PH’s Champion was singled out and taken down. Brazil took the early lead at 1-0. Team PH bounced back during the second round as the Champion was able to place a well-timed Extremity Fist to Brazil’s Professor, this move tied the series at 1-1. The last and deciding match was even more intense, as the two teams immediately engaged each other in a melee. However, Team PH was able to eliminate Brazil’s Professor once again”.

Meanwhile, Joey Allarila writes a more detailed coverage of the games in this breaking news article at inquirer online. There’s also coverage of the event at hackenslash.

More updates later as I get new information!

Way to go Team Philippines! Best of luck tomorrow.

GM T