PH's OMO Abyssinian secures silver medal in Pokemon Unite World Championship debut

OMO Abyssinian can still hold their heads high.

This, after a runner-up finish in the recently concluded Pokemon Unite World Championship 2023 as first timer in the global competition.

The reigning Asia Pacific (APAC) East Championship titlist from the Philippines got swept by North America's Luminosity Gaming in their best-of-five (Bo5) finals series, 3-0, at Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan on Saturday, August 12.

Luminosity proved too much for OMO in the championship round, asserting mastery over the same squad they dropped to the lower bracket (LB) during their upper bracket (UB) semifinal clash via a 2-0 sweep.

The North Americans ensured the Southeast Asians won't force another Bo5, as the latter must beat them in their first five-game series to extend the finale.

Thanks to the herculean effort of William "Overlord98" Brynes, who used Zoroark, Luminosity clawed their way back to Game One dominated by the Abyssinians in the early game for a 1-0 lead.

Odds favored Luminosity in Game Two after betting on their late-game selections to erect a 2-0 advantage in the following frame.

Flipping the script, Luminosity raced to an early lead in the opening five minutes before halting a fightback from a valiant OMO side to conquer the crown.

OMO survived three LB matches to remain in contention for the world championship trophy.

The quintet of Jose Miguel "Jrabsnt" Liban, Luis John "Luisss" Felizarte, Michael Vaughn "Miva" Ocio, Joshua "Shua" de Leon, and Joe Daryl "TempezT" Maghanoy overcame Korea Republic's Akjil, 2-0, in the LB quarterfinals.

Come the LB semifinals, the Filipino crew bounced back from their Game One loss to edge host Japan's Mjk, 2-1.

Facing another Japanese team in the LB finals, the Abyssianians shrugged off an opening game defeat against Oyasumi Makuri to reverse the results, 2-1, and schedule a date versus their UB tormentor Luminosity.

In the group stages, the APAC East representative topped Group F with an unblemished 2-0 record.

OMO then took down Group C winner and Brazil champion 00 Nation in the UB quarterfinal round, 2-1.

Such only showed how capable OMO is in their maiden Pokemon Unite World Championship stint, making the Filipinos' performance remarkable.

They qualified for the world championship after winning the APAC East Championship at the expense of Taiwan's Orangutan.

OMO will bring home 75,000 dollars or over 4.2 million pesos, while Luminosity won the first-place cash prize of 100,000 dollars.

Third placer Oyasumi Makuro earned 65,000 dollars, while fourth placer Mjk settled for 60,000 dollars.