In the climactic showdown of the VCT Pacific Kickoff 2024 tournament finals, Gen G emerged victorious over the reigning Pacific powerhouse, Paper Rex, in a thrilling Sunday afternoon clash. The highly anticipated match showcased the remarkable mechanical prowess of players from both sides, eliciting admiration from fans worldwide. Yet amidst the jubilation of the finals, a debutant, Cahya “Monyet” Nugroho of Paper Rex, found himself overshadowed by his team’s performance.
Monyet, who joined PRX before the end of September 2023, bore the brunt of severe criticism from Southeast Asian fans for his perceived underwhelming display, falling short of the standard set by his teammates. In the best-of-five encounter, PRX struggled to match Gen G’s relentless aggression, succumbing to a 3-1 defeat. Throughout the series, Monyet appeared out of tempo, often finding himself outmatched and contributing to disadvantageous team dynamics during critical teamfights.
The opening game witnessed PRX faltering against Gen G’s swift tactics on Ascent, suffering a decisive 5-13 loss. The Singaporean replied with its meme composition, resulting in a resounding 13-4 victory in game 2. However, PRX’s subsequent relaxation of their aggressive stance proved costly, leading to back-to-back defeats and thwarting their hopes of clinching the title in their inaugural major competition of the season.
The disappointing performance sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with Monyet bearing the brunt of fans’ discontent, who deemed him a liability for PRX. Some even unfavorably comparing him to former members such as Wang “Jinggg” Jie and Patiphan “cgrs” Porsi.
In stark contrast, Kim “t3xture” Na-ra, Monyet’s former teammate from Global Esports now representing Gen G, emerged as a standout performer for his new squad. The 24-year-old duelist showcased his prowess with an impressive ACS of 250.8, trailing only behind Jeremy “Jremy” Cabrera (Team Secret) and Peter “Governor” No (Talon Esports), the top rated players in the competition.
Nonetheless, it should not be seen as a crisis, as PRX still has enough time to reassess and refine their strategies before Masters Madrid commences. With the inclusion of VCT China as a fresh contender, they are bound to encounter a revamped competitive landscape in the forthcoming season.
