Blacklist International opened its Mobile Legends Bang Bang: M3 World Championships campaign on a dominant fashion, thrashing Brazilian squad Red Canids, 1-0, in their group stage match at the Suntec Convention Center in Singapore on Monday, Dec 6.
The Filipino champions, pegged as one of the heavy favorites in the tournament, lived up to the billing as it banked on its relentless attack from start to finish to notch its first win in the group stage after a 16-4 domination over Red Canids.
Jonmar “OhmyV33nus” Villaluna dictated the tempo for Blacklist with his signature Mathilda as he finished with an impressive 2-1-14 score line. Danerie “Wise” Del Rosario was also solid on his jungle Barats with a 2-1-8 KDA
Ohmyv33nus set the tone for the rout with a first blood on the Lucas “Upaatzy Jose’s Wanwan as both squads put on the pressure on both of their gold lanes. The move however backfired for the Brazilians as Wise prevailed on his jungle matchup against Abraão “Jump Style” Santos’ Yi Sun-Shin.
A team fight near Canids’ orange buff pit went to Blacklist’s favor as it took down three heroes on to the side of the Brazil MPL Champions with Wise’s Barats the lone casualty for Blacklist's side.
Blacklist kept rolling from that point as it built an early 10k gold lead at the 11-minute mark of the game.
The back-to-back MPL Philippines titlists then used the Lord to bait Red Canids to a team fight at the 17-minute mark of the game. The Filipinos punished the Brazilians with a three-man wipe before securing the Luminous Lord to close out the game.
Blacklist will still have two games to play in the opening day with a clash against Bedel at 4PM before rounding out its group stage schedule with Malvinas Gaming at 6 p.m.