The Real Test Came for Sentinels. They Lost It Twice.
Sentinels opened Americas Stage 2 at 2-0 with johnqt back in the lineup, then dropped back-to-back series to 100 Thieves and G2 Esports.
Two weeks ago I wrote that 100 Thieves was the series that would actually tell us how good this Sentinels roster is. I got my answer. It's not the one I wanted.
Sentinels dropped that one 2-1 late last week, and it wasn't close on the maps that mattered. They took Sunset 15-13, then got run over on their own picks, 13-8 on Ascent and 13-5 on Breeze. That's not a team losing a coinflip series. That's a team getting figured out in real time. This past Sunday they lost to G2 too, 2-1 across Breeze, Lotus, and Split. Two straight after opening the stage 2-0.
What Actually Changed
Nothing roster-wise. johnqt's been back and healthy since the LOUD win, IGLing like himself again. That was supposed to be the hard part solved. Instead the hard part looks like it was never the injury at all, it was whether this Sentinels core can beat the actual contenders in the region. Cloud9 and LOUD are good teams having rough stages. 100 Thieves and G2 are not.
I Was Too Quick to Call It
I wrote "I'm not popping off about a group stage win" after the LOUD series, and I should've sat with that same caution going the other way. One bad week doesn't undo johnqt's return, and Sentinels still have time before playoffs to fix whatever this is. But I framed 100 Thieves as the answer key, and the answer was a loss on their own map pick. That's the stat that sticks with me, not the record.
Stage 2 group play runs through Aug. 9. Sentinels need to find answers fast, or the reunion tour ends before playoffs even start.