There are just a couple of days to the start of the Summer Split and FLY is looking to get back to their 2020 form. Check out our FlyQuest LCS Preview.
2022 Spring Split was a roller coaster for FlyQuest. They had a fast start to the season while trying out different drafts, mostly centered around the smite top tactic. After Week 3 ended, FLY was tied for the first place with the TL, but unfortunately, they couldn’t keep up their level the same and ended 9-9, securing the last place available for the Playoffs.
FlyQuest Summer 2022 Roster
- Philip ‘Philip’ Zeng
- Brandon ‘Josedeodo’ Villegas
- Loïc ‘toucouille’ Dubois
- Johnson ‘Johnsun’ Nguyen
- Zaqueri ‘aphromoo’ Black
Starting 2022, the biggest move for FLY isn’t related to their League roster at all. Just a couple of days ago, they announced their CEO, Tricia Sugita, is leaving the organization. Sugita was credited with changing the branding of FLY from a Challenger Series team to a serious organization and with starting important initiatives like TreeQuest, where the org plants trees for certain in-game milestones.
The roster on the other hand was set to stay the same, until an announcement yesterday that said the Academy top laner Philip ‘Philip’ Zeng is being promoted to replace Colin ‘Kumo’ Zhao. Philip played three series in the current Academy split, winning five of them. Despite his performance being on the rise, he wasn’t exactly a star top laner in the previous Academy seasons, so it is possible to think this was more of a demotion for Kumo.
📣 #LCS 2022 Summer Roster! We have seen some amazing growth within our organization. You may see a familiar face in @TheRealPhilip5 as our starting top laner!
Showing incredible drive and prowess we can’t wait to see him #ShowcaseGreatness with the squad! pic.twitter.com/LdAuYYUTSf
— FlyQuest (@FlyQuest) June 14, 2022
During Spring, Kumo saw most of his success with either smite top laners or with tanks, and he struggled with more carry-oriented champions. Even though he is a younger player, he also has multiple splits under his belt, so FLY is probably thinking their time is better spent developing Philip’s talents.
The rest of FLY had much better splits. The recent import Loïc ‘toucouille’ Dubois impressed the audience, even though most weren’t expecting too much from him. Brandon ‘Josedeodo’ Villegas had his best split in the LCS after two mediocre ones and an abysmal Lock-in tourney. The upwards trajectory of the mid-jungle duo is a good sign for FLY’s playoff chances.
But the main shining spot of the roster is the bot lane. If we look at the recent LCS splits, no team Zaqueri ‘aphromoo’ Black was a part of missed the Playoffs. He is back in a duo lane with Johnson ‘Johnsun’ Nguyen who is once again playing at a good level. Considering the ADC position in the league is one of the stronger ones, he is an integral part of the FLY’s success, especially if they continue to play as they did in the Spring. But it is important to keep in mind that they finished sixth while some teams under them were heavily struggling. Those teams will be much stronger this split, so FLY also needs to put their foot on the pedal.
