TOP 8 DRAFT

With a Top 8 loaded with Veterans in Francis Profeta, Gerald Camangon, Jason Ascalon, Chip Jamir and strong up-and-coming players in Philip Rama III, Mark Arriola, Edwin Ebon and Rexel Tenorio, it was very difficult to choose who to follow in this draft. I decided to go with the hot hand in Gerald, who went undefeated in the swiss rounds.

Gerald opened an Imperious Perfect with nothing else close power-wise in the pack. He was passed double Marsh Flitters, a Nameless Inversion and solid fillers in Squeaking Pie Sneak, Lignify, Gilt Leaf Seer, Spiderwig Boggart and Fertile Ground. The picks were relatively easy as the other colors were seemingly cut off.

In the second pack, Gerald opened a Doran against Weed Strangle. Gerald chose not to pass up on the bomb as the opportunity to pick up splash enablers was still very much available. Black and Green cards then became scarce, with white cards overflowing from the left, which seemed to irritate Gerald somewhat. Gerald managed to pick up some playables along the way in Nath's Elite, Leaf Gilder, Boggart Logger, Fistful of Fury, CLoudcrown Oak and a late Elvish Harbinger.

In the final pack, Gerald needed removal and he got a Weed Strangle over an Ancient Amphitheater. Gerald urged Jason to take the money rare but he didn't oblige and it made it all the way to Philip. Gerald then picked up some power in Warren Pilferers, Thorntooth Witch and changelings.

Gerald ended up with a solid but unspectacular deck which could win the draft. He had to be wary of the white deck or decks in the table though, considering the quality of the white cards that were moving through the table.

 

Quarterfinals - Gerald Camangon v. Mark Arriola

Game 1

Gerald opens with a Wanderer's Twig to fetch plains and enable the third turn Doran. Unfortunately, this makes Mark's pair of Boggart Sprite Chasers 3/3 and Gerald is quickly behind the damage race. More fliers come out for Mark and Gerald can only muster a Cloudchaser Oak which is promptly countered by Faerie Trickery. Gerald concedes shortly thereafter.

Game 2

Gerald opens again with a third turn Doran off three natural basic lands. More treefolk follow in Cloudcrown Oak, Thorntooth Witch and Black Poplar Shaman. The first two ironically receive a Glimmerdust Nap. Mark is unable to answer the two remaining treefolk however and fall quickly to Doran enhanced beats.

Game 3

Gerald has a fast start with early drops and chips into Mark's life total. Mark keeps playing land and nothing else which effectively telegraphs mass removal. Gerald has no choice but to play more creatures and Mark is forced to confirm Gerald's suspicions by casting Incendiary Command.

Imperious Perfect comes off the top, one of the best comeback cards from mass removal in Lorwyn. Both sides play out random dorks but Mark has no answer for the Perfect (having placed Tarfire on the bottom from a clash). Mark is overrun by elf tokens, allowing Gerald to move on to the semifinals.

Gerald 2 - Mark 1

Other quarterfinals

Chip Jamir defeats Philip Rama 2-0
Edwin Ebon defeats Jason Ascalon 2-0

 

Semi-finals - Gerald Camangon v. Francis Profeta

Game 1

I come into the game to see Francis with Mulldrifter, Aethersnipe, Dreamspoiler Witches and Ghostly Changeling to Gerald's Woodland Changeling, Perfect, Leaf Gilder and elf token. It would seem to be a pretty close match if not for the fact that Gerald has only two forests in play. Gerald kept a one land hand and was never able to draw out of it.

Francis swings with everything to allow for the alpha strike next turn. To add insult to injury, Francis does the Pestermite thing on Gerald's upkeep. Gerald concedes.

I sneak a peek at the other semi-finals and learn that Chip is down one game. He is in good shape in the second game, however, as he was going through the Summon the School motions.

Game 2

Despite the mana screw in the first game, Gerald decides to take out a land. He sees an opening seven of four swamps, Fertile Ground, Facevaulter and Lignify. His next six has swamp and plains but no forest to enable Doran, Perfect and the other green cards in his hand. Francis takes advantage and uses Surgespanner to further prevent Gerald from coming back. Gerald has had enough and concedes.

Francis 2 - Gerald 0

Other Semfinals
Edwin Ebon defeats Chip Jamir 2-1

 

Finals - Francis Profeta v. Edwin Ebon

Some confusion ensues when no one can find Edwin's sideboard. Fortunately, Edwin has reverted to his main deck and the players are ready for the first game.

Game 1

Edwin keeps a 2 mountain with Fertile Ground hand and manages to draw into a forest. His aura is delayed one turn though due to the usual Pestermite tricks. Francis tries a Surgespanner which meets a Lash Out and the players are down to Kithkin Daggerdare and Pestermite respectively.

Edwin uses the kithkin to champion out a Changeling Berserker and cracks for 5. He tries to attack again next turn but is prevented by yet another Pestermite. Francis uses Weed Strangle to get rid off the champion and swings back for 4.

Thundercloud Shaman makes an appearance wiping out both Pestermites and 2 Kithkin Daggerdares. The giant attacks next turn into an empty board. Edwin tries Tar Pitcher but Francis has Cryptic Command to counter and bounce the giant. Francis then plays Liliana Vess and forces Edwin to discard Lys Alana Huntmaster.

The giant comes back and Francis forces another discard. He follows up with Aethersnipe to return the giant once again to Edwin's Hand. Liliana is now at 7 loyalty counters and a Makeshift Mannequin fetching Pestermite prevents Edwin from attacking to reduce the counters. Edwin concedes before Liliana can go off.

Game 2

It's almost midnight and both players are visibly tired. However, somebody has to win the invite and both players pray for quick games with no need for complex decisions.

Edwin comes racing out of the gates with a Fertile Ground into Lys Alana Huntmaster. Francis has a kicked Paperfin Rascal, revealing Dreamspoiler Witches to Edwin's land.

Edwin attacks with Lys Alana, Francis blocks but loses the battle when Edwin flashes out Briarhorn. Edwin now has 2 3/3s to Francis' empty board. Desperate for land, Francis evokes a Mulldrifter but misses on both cards.Edwin keeps up the offense with Battlewand Oak, Elvish Branchbender with a buddy token.

Francis has lots of cards in hand but none in play but land, facing down 5 creatures and an Epic Proportions in Edwin's hand. Edwin alpha strikes for the win. Pretty simple game.

Game 3

Edwin has the first creature in Soulbright Flamekin. Francis of course has the Pestermite thing again in Edwin's upkeep. Edwin attacks and passes the turn. Pestermite cracks back and Francis has Surgespanner... which dies to Tarfire. We have yetto see a Surgespanner survive a turn the whole day.

Edwin casts Lowland Oaf which is returned to his hand by Aethersnipe. Francis continues to beat in with Pestermite. It is joined by Aethersnipe the next turn and Edwin has the Gilt Leaf Ambush for it. Francis, however, wins the clash with a Mulldrifter and the token basically becomes just another chump blocker. Post combat Silvergill Douser comes down for Francis.

Francis digs deeper with the revealed Drifter then attacks again with Snipe and Mite. Francis has the three best blue commons on board and Edwin is seemingly short on land, playing nothing. Francis attacks with the blue commons and Edwin has one of the best green commons in a second Gilt Leaf Ambush. Both players reveal land and the tokens are once again reduced to chump blockers.Edwin tries a Crush Underfoot on Mulldrifter to reduce the flying beats but Francis takes out the lone Lowland Oaf with a Whirlpool Whirl, fizzling the removal spell.

It's not looking good for Edwin who is down to 10 and has only 4 drops in hand. He makes use of Soulbright Flamekin's special ability to at least be able to cast 2 of them in one turn but Lowland Oaf and Tar Pitcher is not very impressive against Francis' current army. Francis has the Makeshift Mannequin returning Surgespanner EOT and Francis can realistically end the game on his next turn.

Francis obliges with a Wings of Veils Veil on Silvergill Douser, bounces one of the blockers with Surgespanner and attacks with everything, taking Edwin down to a very precarious 2. Edwin draws and concedes.

Francis Profeta is going to PT Kuala Lumpur!

See you guys at PTQ KL 2.