"They did some good adjustments"- Sentinels' johnqt on their close win on Sunset against DRX at Valorant Champions 2024 (Exclusive)
Valorant Champions 2024 has begun its next phase of the event. After a series of exciting matches, only eight out of the sixteen teams have made their way to the playoff stage. This stage will be conducted in a double-elimination format meaning every match will be important for each team if they want to get closer to the trophy.
Day 11 opened with a match between Americas' number four seed, Sentinels, and Pacific's number two seed, DRX. The BO3 (Best-of-three) was extremely close in the first map, Sunset but Sentinels managed to eke out an overtime victory. However, things became a lot more one-sided on the second map, Haven, which led to Sentinels taking the map and the Bo3 series with a 2-0 win.
In the post-match conference, Sportskeeda Esports' Sneh Jadhav got the chance to talk to Sentinels' IGL (In-game Leader), Johnqt during which he said:
"They did some good adjustments"
Sentinels' johnqt talks about the close win on Sunset against DRX in Valorant Champions 2024
Sentinels have made quite the resurgence in Valorant Champions 2024. After an underwhelming performance in Stage 1 and Stage 2, the team was being heavily doubted by many coming into the global event. However, the Masters Madrid winners were able to shut the critics down by winning against Gen.G and qualifying for the Playoffs.
In their first playoff match of Valorant Champions 2024 against DRX, Sentinels started things strongly. The team enjoyed a dominant start on the first map, Sunset, although things started to slip at a later point in the second half. DRX was able to make a comeback and took things to overtime. Yet, Sentinels somehow managed to close it out and win the first map.
Sportskeeda Esports approached Sentinels' IGL, johnqt to ask him what factors he thought allowed DRX to make that comeback and put up a fight on Sunset. Here's what he said
"We had a good start on the attack half and we were up like 11-7, 11-6 or something like that. They did some good adjustments. They kinda had a good read. We also overheated to be honest and it's been happening the past few times where we have such a big lead and we just kinda give it away and go to overtime. But we had a lot of reps on Sunset since OFF//SEASON. We played a lot and I felt like we have played all types of games where we are down or we are up, it's kinda close and we have a lot of experience on it."
After this win, Sentinels will be proceeding further in the Upper Bracket of the Playoffs stage. Their next match will be against China's EDward Gaming where they will battle for the Upper Finals spot.
Check out these other exclusives from the event:
- Paper Rex’s coach, alecks, on EDward Gaming’s newest roster iteration in Valorant Champions 2024
- Sentinels' coach, kaplan, after their win against Gen.G in Valorant Champions 2024
- DRX's BuZz talks about the defeat against Sentinels at Valorant Champions 2024