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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider MPL-PH S7 Playoffs Upper Bracket: Blacklist takes on reigning champion Bren, Aura battles Omega

MPL-PH S7 Playoffs Upper Bracket: Blacklist takes on reigning champion Bren, Aura battles Omega

Published May 25, 2021 07:15 pm

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After a grueling seven-week Regular Season, eight teams remain in the running for the MPL Philippines Season 7 championship.

Blacklist International and Aura PH emerged atop their respective groups while Bren Esports and Smart Omega needed to end their shaky campaigns on a strong note to assure themselves a spot in the upper bracket.

Blacklist is set for a collision course against tormentor Bren even as Aura is slated to battle Omega in best-of-five matches.

While Blacklist and Aura are tabbed to prevail, the playoffs are seen as a different beast as Bren and Omega are also eyeing the shorter route to the chip.

Blacklist International vs Bren Esports

Thursday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Blacklist, which was not tagged a preseason favorite, took the league by storm behind its preseason acquisition of iconic duo Jonmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna and Danerie James "Wise" Del Rosario who steered Onic to back-to-back runner-up finishes in Seasons 4 and 5.

The "V33Wise" tandem complemented Blacklist's holdovers Jayson "ESON" Gerardo and Edward "EDWARD" Dapadap as well as rookie Kiel "OHEB" Soriano.

With its trendsetting meta anchored on OhMyV33nus' support heroes and strong sidelaners EDWARD and OHEB, the squad of coach Kristoffer "BON CHAN" Ricaplaza and sixth man-analyst Dexter "DEX STAR" Alaba ruled Group B with an astounding 12 series wins against lone defeat.

The Tier One Entertainment-backed team is hell-bent on breaking the code and win it all this season.

However, reigning MPL-PH and M2 world champion Bren Esports with its intact roster of Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno, Angelo "Pheww" Arcangel, CJ "Ribo" Ribo, Allan "Lusty" Castromayor and David "FlapTzy" Canon is standing in Blacklist's way.

Coach Francis "Duckeyyy" Glindro's boys struggled early in the season but got their acts together in time to clinch the No. 2 spot in Group A with an 8-5 slate and a head-to-head advantage against Work Auster Force.

Ribo has been the X factor for the team so far, with his gold lane mages Chang'e, Alice, Pharsa and Kagura dealing the much-needed magic damage in team fights. The rest of Bren is also peaking at the right time of the season, making them all the more scary in the playoffs.

The champs in black and yellow were the only ones who were able to decode Blacklist in the Regular Season and they are looking to replicate the victory on the bigger stage of the league.

Aura PH vs Smart Omega

Wednesday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Aura is on a mission to reclaim the throne it sat on during Seasons 4 and 5, and it proved its will to do it by acquiring sidelaner Benedict "Bennyqt" Gonzales from Execration, jungler Mark "Lord Hadess" Lazaro from Cignal Ultra and coach Steven "DaleDalus" Vitug from Smart Omega.

Keeping its champion players Jaypee "Jaypee" Dela Cruz, Chan "Rafflesia" Fajura, Ahsley "Killuash" Cruz and Allen "Greed" Baloy, Aura's offseason moves definitely paid off as it seized the top seed in Group A with 26 points on a 9-4 card.

Bennyqt has been a standout player for Aura this season while Lord Hadess finally came out of his shell and showed his potential, with Jaypee taking a step back to the tank role and giving him support.

For its part, Omega is seeking to get the ring this time after falling short against Bren last season and do it with its intact lineup featuring Salic "Hadjizy" imam, Jeniel "Haze" Bata-anon, Kenneth Jiane "Kenji" Villa, Adrian "Toshi" Bacallo, EJ "Heath" Esperanza and Jankurt "KurtTzy" Matira.

Despite a roller-coaster campaign, the Smart-backed squad managed to secure the second seed in Group B with 21 points on a 6-7 tally.

Hadjizy and Toshi have been Omega's go-to guys but KurtTzy has also proven that he can step up with his new role as mage-support.

Against Aura, Hadjizy and company will need to find a way to resolve their mistakes in their 2-0 loss to the two-time winners back in the Regular Season.

Related Tags

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Aura PH Blacklist International Smart Omega bren esports MPL-PH Season 7 Upper Bracket Playoffs MPL Philippines Season 7 Playoffs
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