In what can only be described as a clinic on tank dominance, Mauga Hanaoka took center stage for Blue Team, delivering one of the most oppressive frontline performances we've seen this stage. With 21 eliminations, only 4 deaths, and an impressive 14,704 damage dealt, Hanaoka played like a walking fortress—clearing lanes, anchoring objectives, and forcing Red Team into constant retreat.
From the start, it was clear Blue had a plan: play around Mauga’s pressure. Every teamfight was built around his spacing—he’d engage hard, burning through supports, while his team followed up with precision. What stood out most wasn’t just the raw numbers, but the discipline. Hanaoka wasn’t feeding; he was choosing fights, absorbing cooldowns, and falling back when necessary, then re-engaging at the perfect moment.
It’s worth noting how well-supported he was, too. Lawg and Marco put up solid healing stats (2,115 and 2,340 respectively), giving Mauga the sustain needed to stay in deep fights. Meanwhile, Rex—Blue’s top DPS with 21 elims—synced perfectly with Hanaoka’s rhythm, following up on damage spikes and capitalizing on space created.
Compare that to Red Team’s frontline, which crumbled early and often. T12, presumably their tank, went 8/7 with 7,580 damage—respectable, but nowhere near the level required to deal with Hanaoka’s sheer pressure. And their backline never stabilized. With E7SHA ending on a rough 1/12, it was clear that Hanaoka’s dives were landing, repeatedly.
In the post-match stats, MACHA was also highlighted with absurd overall stats—23 elims, 30,055 damage, and 11,094 healing—suggesting a hybrid carry-support role (possibly a Baptiste or Illari). It begs the question: was Hanaoka feeding off MACHA’s value, or was MACHA shining because of the space Mauga created? Either way, that synergy was lethal.
Key Takeaways:
Mauga Hanaoka’s control of tempo and space set the tone.
Red Team lacked answers—their positioning crumbled under sustained pressure.
Support synergy (especially healing uptime) allowed Mauga to play aggressively without overcommitting.
Team Blue looked coordinated, especially in follow-ups on Mauga’s engages.
This game was a masterclass in tank-led dominance, and if Hanaoka keeps playing like this, we're looking at a serious playoff run contender.
Watchpoint: Gibraltar
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