After finishing top three at kick-off, MIBR carry on their form with a win over Cloud9 in this nail biter of a series where aspas shined over OXY despite both teams looking head to head.

MIBR clawed their way back from a map down to defeat Cloud9 2-1. The series, played with fierce intensity, showcased the rising form of MIBR’s Brazilian core and the raw talent of Cloud9’s youthful roster.

Cloud9 came into the series with energy and momentum, quickly asserting control on Lotus. The North American squad showcased clean executes and suffocating defensive setups, consistently shutting down MIBR’s attempts to gain map control. The standout player on this map was Francis “OXY” Hoang, whose hyper-aggressive duels and confident entry work earned him 24 kills and an impressive 330 ACS. Cloud9 looked comfortable throughout, and their coordination suggested they were ready to close out the series swiftly.

MIBR responded with firepower on Abyss. The Brazilian side shifted the tempo, applying calculated pressure and exploiting weaknesses in Cloud9’s defensive rotations. Erick “aspas” Santos proved once again why he’s one of the most dangerous duelists in the Americas region, delivering crisp aim and relentless entries. Aspas finished the map strong, contributing a pivotal multi-kill round late in the second half to flip the momentum. Despite Cloud9’s efforts to mount a comeback, MIBR edged them out 15-13 and evened the series.

Pearl served as the battleground for the decider, but Cloud9’s earlier sharpness seemed to fade as MIBR’s confidence surged. The map quickly tilted in MIBR’s favor, as their utility usage and spacing picked apart Cloud9’s defensive holds. Cortezia stepped up alongside aspas, providing clutch anchor plays and utility coordination that stifled any attempts by C9 to regain momentum. MIBR closed the map 13-10 with a clinical attacking half, completing the reverse sweep.

𝐵𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑. pic.twitter.com/0Q8fkYzo0F

— MADE IN BRAZIL. (@MIBR) April 7, 2025

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With 63 kills across the series and an overall ACS of 247, cortezia was the clear difference-maker. His resilience under pressure and his ability to shift the pace of the game gave MIBR the edge they needed when it mattered most.

MIBR will now look ahead to NRG, where they will be very confident after NRG’s recent devastating loss to G2 where they couldn’t get double digit rounds across the two maps. Cloud9 will look to recover their form against FURIA, who are looking like the worst team in the Americas league with their 0-3 record in the Omega group.