In a dramatic twist of events, Geek Fam finds itself in hot water with Moonton following an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct by their star jungler, Manuel “Nnael” Simbolon, in a triumphant clash against Deus Vult during its second group stage game at M5 yesterday.
The showdown between Geek Fam and Deus Vult emerged as a riveting spectacle, commanding the audience’s attention with a display of verbal sparring on the grand stage of the EVM Convention Center in Quezon City. Tempers flared when Deus Vult’s Mathaios “Kid Bomba” Chatzilakos, the exp laner, provocatively engaged in on-stage taunts after the teams found themselves deadlocked at 1-1. Nevertheless, Geek Fam ultimately prevailed, clinching the series 2-1 and significantly boosting their prospects for advancing to the knockout stages.
However, amidst the post-victory revelry, spectators caught Nnael making a controversial gesture – a blatant display of a middle finger aimed at his opponents. This unsavory action drew swift and severe criticism from the MLBB community, prompting Moonton to mete out a penalty for the rule violation. Consequently, Nnael has been slapped with a two-match suspension, a consequence that looms over Geek Fam’s potential participation in the upcoming knockout stages.
“The committee has decided to impose a two-match suspension on Geek Fam’s Nnael. We will take active steps to ensure that all teams are reminded of the rules concerning professionalism,” wrote Moonton on social media.
With Nnael sidelined, Geek Fam now faces the challenge of reshuffling their lineup, relying on either Mark “Markyyy” Capacio or reserve player Mohammad “Cadera” Pambudi. While both possess commendable mechanical prowess, navigating this temporary lineup adjustment presents a formidable task for Geek Fam’s coaching team as they strategize anew.
Beyond the tactical recalibrations, Geek Fam must also address issues of player discipline, as this incident is not the first of its kind for the team. In 2021, Geek’s mid laner Tanto “Doyok” Aditya found himself on the receiving end of Moonton’s sanctions for similar transgressions during MPL Indonesia Season 7.
