Vancouver Titans vs Washington Justice

Finally, to close out the day, we have a rather peculiar match-up — one that isn't nearly as lopsided as we thought it'd be.

First of all, a twist: the Vancouver Titans have, in spite of the odds, actually grown as a team. How in the world they were able to do that — whilst getting smacked around by their peers for months on end — is beyond us; it warrants our utmost praise and commendation (not to mention respect). It must've taken an otherworldly amount of effort and a kind of resilience that is seldom seen in bottom-dwellers — a role they're still, unfortunately, playing.

The Summer Showdown qualifiers had begun just a mere two weeks ago and yet the Vancouver Titans already have the same number of wins as they did back in the regular season. That, in short, is simply astounding. Heck, they even have a *positive* record — for the time being, at least.

They're still a severely flawed team with an unimpressive skill ceiling, but credit where credit is due; they've been toiling away day in and day out and the results speak for themselves. Their first win came at the expense of the New York Excelsior — a 3-0, no less. Then came a five-map brawl with the Toronto Defiant which they narrowly lost, followed by a most impressive rebound over the Paris Eternal.

Their schedule wasn't all that challenging, in all fairness, but they nonetheless had what it took to emerge victorious, and for that they need to be praised. The Washington Justice, however, are still a cut above.

They, too, have had a very impressive start and are currently a dangerous (albeit still flawed) mid-tier contender. Perhaps "gatekeeper" would be the most apt description. No one's expecting them to leave much of a mark in the grand scheme of things but they will, nonetheless, put on a show for those in attendance.

They might not be a towering giant, but they *are* better than Vancouver. Will they be able to prove it? We sure do hope so, although there are never any guarantees, especially in today's topsy-turvy meta and ever-changing status quo.