By REYNALD MAGALLON
Onic Philippines became the first team to decode Blacklist International as it halted the defending champion’s 11-game win streak via a 2-0 sweep in the MPL Philippines Season 8 on Sunday, October 3.
Onic proved why it is one of the top contenders for the season after slaying the previously undefeated Blacklist to assure itself a spot in the top two at the end of the eliminations.
The top two teams get an outright spot in the upper bracket semifinals and will have to wait for the winners of the upper bracket quarterfinals in the playoffs.
That motivation was enough for Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol to unleash his jungler Paquito and score an emphatic 10-0-6 KDA in Game 1. Kairi was aggressive right from the get go as he dominated in jungle battle against his counterpart Danerie “Wise” Del Rosario, who utilized an unusual Karina pick.
Jaylord “Hatred” Gonzales provided the support on his Natan with a 5-2-5 KDA while Allen “Baloyskie” Baloy was on target with his Abyssal Arrows on his Selena, finishing with nine assists and a kill against three deaths.
Blacklist came alive in the second game and had the chance to tie the series after taking down three heroes on the side of Onic during a clash for the Lord. The defending champs called for a one lane push to end the game but Ian “Beemo” Segio on the Jawhead and Baloyskie on the Selena put up a huge defensive stance to protect the base against four Blacklist players.
Onic then returned the favor in the next Lord fight as Beemo made the clutch play anew, isolating Wise’s jungle Barat with his Ejector that led to a Luminous Lord for Onic's side and a four-man wipe of Blacklist to seal the game.
Beemo was no doubt the MVP of Game 2 with a 1-3-7 KDA while Hatred did most of the damage on his Natan with a 7-3-4 KDA.
The loss hardly affected Blacklist, which had already secured a spot in the upper bracket earlier and remained atop the standings with an 11-1 record with 28 points. Onic, meanwhile, solidified its second spot with an 8-4 record and 25 points under its name.