After a commanding performance against the Ghenzou Charge, the Vancouver Titans continued their undefeated streak. While they may be Number Two in the rankings (New York Excelsior is currently 9-0, while Vancouver rests at 8-0), they’ve earned themselves a target as the team to beat, especially after winning the Stage One Championships.
Vancouver’s three
The @VancouverTitans just set a King's Row attack record with 2:44. ? #OWL2019 pic.twitter.com/djYcMOBISN
— Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) April 7, 2019
But how does Vancouver make Titans among GOATS? To find out more, we sat down with their coach, Harsha Bandi, to speak on the team’s success, and to learn what makes Vancouver so incredibly dominant in the Overwatch League.
Twin Galaxies: What makes Vancouver so good in the 3/3 meta?
Harsha Bandi: The team has been together for so long, the synergy is just significantly better than any other team that’s in the [Overwatch] League... Like, Bumper, Stitch, Haksal have been together for longer than pretty much anybody in the League. I think that being a team, and being coordinated, and being able to communicate things—sometimes without even needing to say it—I think that’s really important in this meta, especially when we move to more and more teamwork instead of individual skill. This team just has the ability to play 3/3 and that solid play really well.
TG: And what would you say to people who think that’s all Vancouver can do?
HB: Those people probably haven’t watched Runaway play beforehand. Runaway hasn’t always been a top two team, but it’s always been able to get back to the top two of the world like APEX Season 2 and APEX Season 4. Those were more dive
TG: Speaking of playing other characters; Bumper playing Hanzo, Bumper playing
HB: (Laughing) Those are his calls, We do have some strategies around Bumper playing DPS for sure; he’s very flexible.
TG: Right now you’re undefeated, and Runaway is still on their streak. What sort of pressure do you feel from that? Do you feel other teams coming for you?
HB: Honestly, it’s not something we really worry about—and maybe the players will disagree—but it’s not really in the back of my mind. I think that we’re just always going to be in a good position to be one of the best teams or the best team in Overwatch League. We just come into every game making sure we did our best and prepared our best and practiced our best, and the pressure’s not really something we think about.
Seeing a sly grin on Bumper’s face-cam after a seemingly impossible pin, or watching the team excitedly give high-fives after a match, it’s hard to think that the pressure is getting to the Titans, but all streaks must come to an end. This week, the Titans face the Seoul Dynasty, with star tank player Chan-
Unfortunately, we don’t see Vancouver take New York Excelsior, the only other undefeated team in the Overwatch League, during regular season play. This scheduling was most likely intentional, keeping fans hyped for the potential to see the two behemoths clash in the
Who do you think could be the first to take down the Titans? Let us know in the comments below!
(Feature Photo Credit: Robert Paul, Blizzard Entertainment)