SelectFive is a brand new feature at Pantheon Gaming where they, or their guest writers, select the top five teams that they believe will make a mark in the respective competition. The best of the best are selected, with this first edition looking at the Battle of the Clans (BOTC) CSSv5.
Steve “roskii” Roberts takes a small but in-depth look at the recent performance of each of the teams listed, and what they need to do in order to successfully compete and hopefully make it to the top in the fifth edition of the BOTC CSS.
To find about more about the BOTC CSS v5, head over to their site.
Note: The views expressed in the article represent the opinion of the writer only. The order in which the article places the teams is completely random, and has no intention of ranking them.
asceNt:
Jandre “persy” Lombard\
Darren “gl1tch” Tiplady
Leslie “UnKnown” Greenwood
Berno “Greyh4zE” Greyling
Dean “HackeM” Seyfried
Hailing from the Mother City, asceNt have cemented themselves as a respected, and even more so, feared team, that cause any opponent to put out their best, or be left behind in tatters. With two 2nd place finishes in previous BOTC events, this team is hungry to finally grab the trophy.
2009 has been a consistent year for this mainly young lineup. Placing 1st in both legs of the AGASA online league has given a boost of confidence, which will be critical as the BOTCv5 is the most competitive to date.
Seyfried’s experience in 1.6 and the unpredictable might of their young talent Greenwood will push each of every one of their opponents to their limits. However, the players will need to keep their heads in the game, and can’t afford to slip up when it counts most.
roski’s Most Valuable Player: Leslie “UnKnown” Greenwood
Pantheon Gaming:
Charndre “trAumA” Mey
David “Skirge” Marran
Giovanni “Vamooze” Bazan
Amory “blazE” Landis
Tiaan “tiNyskapie” Opperman
Leading the BOTC Counter-Strike: Source rankings, Pantheon have managed to rake up 28 points, placing them 6 ahead of their nearest competitor, the formidable asceNt. Finishing in the top 3 for the first three BOTC events, Pantheon slipped behind in the 4th edition after being knocked out by a relatively unknown c7e.
Pantheon’s lack of a consistent five man lineup has been the centre of discussion for several months. Luckily though, the team managed to pick up former 1.6 talent Giovanni “Vamooze” Bazan, who brings both experience and his ability to motivate the team through the most stressful of games.
Pantheon finally found their footing after taking 1st place at the MPLD Pantheon Challenge in July. With a new found motivation, and a rebirth of dedication within the team, things are looking good for the side who are expecting to finish no less than 1st.
roskii’s Most Valuable Player: Giovanni “Vamooze” Bazan
Calamity:
Alistair “Lag_beast” Bouman
Brendon “moonCow” Dell
Donovan “nod” Fourie
David “PaCmaN” Harrison
Ashton “Golz” Muller
Reforming back in June this year, Calamity, a team that shot onto the scene the previous year, were looking to regain some of their former glory. Comprising of both original Calamity players, and a few new faces, the team had the perfect mix for new found enthusiasm.
MPLD was their first test. Facing eC early on, they knocked the Bloem boys down to the losers bracket. Led by Dell, and motivated the one man army, Bouman, the team showed promise. However, they couldn’t maintain their momentum, and ended up placing 4th.
Synergy between Calamity’s team members will be key to ensuring their success. Communication will be the base of this synergy, which will play a huge role, as the newer and less experienced players will need to up their confidence.
With the lineup looking towards rAge 2009, this event will be the perfect component to prepare them for what will be South Africa’s largest and most competitive gaming event.
roskii’s Most Valuable Player: Alistair “Lag_beast” Bouman
Eternal Conflict:
Wayne”Craan” Smith
Jaun “kustoM” Herbst
Stefan “Nephilim” Smit
Jaun”Zeo” Nieuwoudt
Travis “Smitherz” Smith
Reigning BOTC champions, as well as battling for a third consecutive title, eternal Conflict are the team to beat in this fifth edition of the country’s most respected online league. Toppling this squad will be a moment of pure satisfaction for any of the other teams.
There has however been much speculation on the future stability of the lineup. Several weeks ago we saw the team effectively ‘disband’ and reform in just under a week. A lack of internal communication was apparent, and something needed to be done. Under the leadership of Craan, the boys from Bloem reorganised themselves and headed up to Pretoria where they placed a respectable 2nd at the MPLD Pantheon Challenge.
More changes have been made to the lineup with some young blood entering the squad. Smitherz, repeatedly acknowledged by many as an ‘online hero’ (who did prove himself to everyone at MPLD July), has taken a spot, with Nephilim taking a fixed position in the lineup after a steady performance at MPLD.
Stability, stability, stability is the name of the game for eC. With formidable talent and big match temperament under their belt in the form of Zeo and Kustom, the team will need to keep themselves on a straight course, and focus solely on building chemistry with their two latest additions.
roskii’s Most Valuable Player: Jaun “kustoM” Herbst
Soviet:
Robert “iNFy” Hart
Craig “suppLy” Hulley
Nathan “ToasTy” Cameron
Lionel “Sonne” Van Der Walt
Christiaan “abrax4z” Serfontein
Formed from the ashes of the heAd, and brewed from the 2008 lineup of asceNt, Soviet have catapulted themselves into the elite niche of South Africa’s top CSS teams. The team did so by winning the first ever MPLD Pantheon Challenge in April this year, which included Pantheon’s Sharon “ShazzChckL” Waison as a substitute.
Riding high on their win, the team seemed to claim the number one rank in the country. Many believed this lineup had found that perfect balance and chemistry within its players. However, unable to attend the 2nd MPLD competition, the team couldn’t prove whether they were more than a one hit wonder.
The BOTC CSSv5 will be a true test for this lineup. Their first ever online competition will be dominated by the likes of the other SelectFive nominee’s. Their previous win will be long forgotten, their confidence only as strong as their weakest player. Experience will have to play a major role in continuing the legacy of the self-proclaimed Russians.
Under the guidance of Serfontein, who has been highly praised for his previous captaincy in asceNt, is the key to the effective functioning of this team. With his knowledge, and the brute power of players such as Van Der Walt, the title is there for the taking.
roskii’s Most Valuable Player: Christiaan “abrax4z” Serfontein
Article courtesy of Pantheon Gaming
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