Carbon Knocks Off Instinct, Advances to Finals
By blandestk | Published: August 30, 2009 10:18pm EST
 If one thing is for sure after the Losers Bracket Finals in Dallas, Carbon are for real. Upsets of Final Boss and Str8 Rippin were not enough for some doubters, but after taking Triggers Down to the limit, they showed they are the genuine deal after sweeping Instinct to earn a spot in the title match. Game 1, Capture the Flag on The Pit, started with the appearance of a stale, defensive tussle, as both teams positioned themselves conservatively. But the game germinated into a free-ranging, eye-pleasing affair. The teams traded blows and flag runs, each completing two and each having multiple runs die just short. At 2-2 Carbon looked to have the situation in hand as Walshy moved the flag three-quarters across the map, but Instinct rose up and shut down the attempt. Carbon stopped a run of Instinct's as well. In the end, Carbon made a serious effort and linked together an impressive, serpentine score. The 3-2 win gave Carbon a 1-0 series lead. Team Slayer Narrows took the spotlight for Game 2. The teams put up similar numbers through the early going, but as the game hit the mid stages, Carbon amassed a five-kill lead. The teams then nearly went point-for-point, as Instinct could never close to within fewer than a four-kill deficit. Carbon ended up taking the game 50-42. Naded went absolutely bonkers in the game, snagging 16 kills to just six deaths. The eighth seed suddenly had a 2-0 series lead and was one game from the Championship Match. Game 3, Oddball Guardian, was an instant classic. The early going was tempered, as neither team dialed up much ball time in the first five minutes. Carbon managed a half-minute advantage and seemed in control. Instinct made a push for survival, however, as they ate up a huge chunk of continuous time with ball in hand. They took the lead in the final two minutes, even pushing it to nearly 30 seconds. With just enough time to win left on the clock, Carbon eradicated Instinct's team and assumed control of the map. Naded picked up the ball and hoped his team could hold off the spawning horde. His teammates responded brilliantly, allowing Carbon to squeak by Instinct 161-158. In the loss, Roy was an admirable 37-27, while Shockwave paced Carbon at 31-23. The win gave Carbon another improbably victory and sweep. Carbon were a combined 9-1 in games against the first, third, and fourth-rated teams. Against all four top-seeded teams they are an eye-popping 11-4. They move to the Championship Match to play Triggers Down, who defeated Carbon 3-2 in the Winners Bracket Finals. Carbon will need to overcome that hole to win, but they have shown they are more than capable. |
