Weeknight matches have returned to the Overwatch League, and last Thursday night was when the eighth edition of the “Battle Of LA” took place. The Valiant certainly had some tricks up their sleeve, but the Gladiators were able to prevail in the end, having to go the distance in order to do it.
Reviewing Week 11
Los Angeles Valiant: 2-3
Map 1 – Busan
Round 1 began with Shax on Tracer eliminating Mirror on Doomfist. Mirror switched to Sombra, and they were able to retake the point early. The Glads managed to halt the Valiant’s momentum with aggressiveness and strategic ultimate abilities. While the Valiant did try putting up a fight, they never got the point back. Gladiators take it 100% to 18%
Offense for the Gladiators started swimmingly, with the Valiant falling one by one to a coordinated attack inside the cafe. LAG takes point A easily. The Gladiators seemed like they were going to get the payload to the end, but the Valiant were able to win the numbers game and hold the payload for more than two minutes.
On defense, Pharah was back for the Valiant. With Pharah, the Valiant were able to take out the Glads’ defenses pretty soundly and secure Point A. On the way to Point B, the payload hardly stopped moving, as the Gladiators had no answer to the Valiants’ offense after multiple team fights. On Point C, the Gladiators did manage to briefly stop the Valiant inside the studio portion of the map, but the Valiant took it right back with more Ashe play and B.O.B. The Valiant surpassed the Gladiators on the point and get on the board, 2-1.
Map 4 – Hanamura
Gladiators start on defense first. They have been able to hold the Valiant off on Point A for most of the time they had to. The Valiant managed to take Point A with about 30 seconds remaining. The Gladiators were not ready for the storm the Valiant brought, as they took point B rather quickly from them. Because of this, they ended with a time of 2:20.
On offense, the Gladiators were unsure about which heroes to choose at the start. They struggled to penetrate the Valiants’ defenses, with Mirror getting picked off early. They managed to eventually wrestle Point A from their powder-blue rival team. The Gladiators then put on a performance for point B that had much left to be desired, as they were easily stopped having to change up heroes multiple times. The announcers lost it as the Gladiators had a questionable composition. Valiant easily handled the Glads without giving up one percentage point. Game tied 2-2.
Map 5 – Ilios
Birdring started as an Ashe to mirror KSP on the Well map. Mirror was also playing as Pharah to counter Shax. After a long fight for the first control, the Valiant prevailed. On the next fight, Birdring was able to outplay KSP on Ashe, and put his sharpshooting abilities on display. The Valiant were a thorn in the side of the Glads, taking the point back only for the Glads to get it again moments later. The Gladiators stave off the Valiant 100% to 76%.
Round 2 was at the ruins. The Gladiators were able to take the point first. The Valiant were able to gain it back after KSP switched to Tracer. Mirror switched from Doomfist to Torbjorn. KSP’s Pulse Bomb didn’t connect. A self-destruct and Death Blossom from the Gladiators later, they take the point back. The Gladiators took it to 91% until the Valiant got it back. Next fight, the Gladiators scare off the Valiant with a couple more ultimate abilities, stopping their momentum at 79%. The Valiant failed to get a body on the point at the last second, as Space’s Orisa’s halt suspended Dreamer’s Wrecking Ball in the air at nice timing. Ballgame. Gladiators win the match 3-2.
Once again, Shaz came through for the Yaters, this time as Moira. Being able to keep the squad alive, Shaz was able to be a key contributor this match, using healing orbs, poison orbs, and Coalescence to help swing around the momentum. This was one of Shaz’s outstanding performances.
Previewing Week 12
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