Blacklist International showed that its Season 7 championship was no fluke as it successfully defended the crown in the MPL Philippines Season 8 after a dominating 4-1 victory over Onic Philippines at the World Trade Center on Sunday, October 24.
The two-time MPL champions proved their doubters wrong who claimed that the Season 7 title only came out of luck, especially after failing to replicate the same success in the Mobile Legend Southeast Asia Cup.
“Since di namin nakuha yung (MSC), tsamba lang raw ‘yung last season pero yun na-prove ng team na deserve talaga,” said Dexter “Dexstar” Alaba in the aftermath of their victory over Onic, while also explaining how the Season 8 championship differs from last season
“Malaking malaki kasi mga team ngayon, dati di nila naman kami tinitingnan, iniisip nila di kami contender ngayon lahat ng team nakatingin na sa amin,” he added.
Blacklist head coach Bonn “Bon Chan” Ricaplaza echoed Dexstar's sentiments, saying their second title should serve as a proof that his players deserve the respect.
“Sobrang napaka importante ng championship na ito kasi nahihirapan kami kunin yung respect na deserve ng mga players ko. ‘Yung respect na deserve naming, nahihirapan talaga kami kunin. Ito na iyon,” said an emotional Bon Chan after the game.
Blacklist's Season 8 run should remove any doubt to the team, especially after the team topped the eliminations with an impressive 13-1 standings highlighted by a record 11 straight victories.
Although it wasn’t as smooth sailing as the regular season, Blacklist managed to book a return trip to the Grand Finals by crawling its way up in the lower bracket where it took down an improved Nexplay Evos and rival Omega Esports. The back-to-back champions then dominated a streaking Onic Philippines which did not drop a single game prior to the Grand Finals.
Bon Chan credited the bond between the team which enabled them to overcome the adversaries this season. He stressed that they were able to build not just a championship team but a family within the Blacklist International.
“Wala ako masabi sa samahan naming, sobrang solid. Di lang basta magkakapatid pamilya kami. Pamilya kami sa boot camp, hindi lang basta kaibigan, kundi pamilya.”