Blacklist International survived a tough challenge from the rookie-laden Bren Esports, 2-1 to keep its upper bracket run going in the MLBB Sibol National Team Selection on Thursday, Jan. 27.
Sans main sidelaners in Edward “Edward” Dapadap and Kiel “Oheb” Soriano, Blacklist banked on its experience as the M3 championship trio of Jonmar “OhmyV33nus” Villaluna, Danerie “Wise” Del Rosario and Salic “Hadji” Imam took over in the deciding Game 3 to shake off a tough Bren Esports squad.
OhmyV33nus dictated the pace for Blacklist in the winner-take-all utilizing a surprise Lolita roaming pick. He, along with Wise’s signature Aldous and Hadji’s Kagura picks proved to be the thorn to the side of the young Bren squad.
OhmyV33nus spearheaded the attack with a 0-2-11 showing while Hadji and Wise unloaded a neat 3-0-5 and 4-0-5 performances to help Blacklist finish off Bren, 12-3, in Game 3. Owl also had a solid game on the Brody in the decider with a 3-0-3 score line.
In Game 1, it was also the dynamic duo of Wise and OhmyV33nus that shone for Blacklist.
With the two getting their hands on their signature heroes, Estes and Yi Sun Shin, Blacklist survived numerous clashes despite the perfect initiation from Bren courtesy of the combination plays from Joyboy’s Ruby, Kevzz’s Claude and Saxa’s Lancelot.
Timely Domain of the Moon Goddess ultimates from OhymyV33nus’ Estes helped Blacklist to sustain Bren’s damage in every clash and allowed Wise to secure key pick-offs for the team in the process.
OhmyV33nus engineered the smooth 11-4 Game 1 win with a 0-1-11 showing while Wise starred with a clean 4-0-7 KDA.
Bren though responded well with an 11-5 victory in the second game. The rookie one-two punch of Saxa and Joyboy proved that they are ready for the big games as the two conspired to put the clamps down on OhmyV33nus’s Rafaela in Game 2
Saxa, who had his free reigns in the jungle, converted most of Joyboy’s setups into kills to topscore in Game with a 7-1-2 KDA.
Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel was also a huge factor in Bren’s win as his Lylia provided heavy AoE damage during team fights. Bren however failed to replicate the same performance in Game 3 as Blacklist’s championship poise was in full display.
Blacklist will face Nexplay Evos next in the second round of the upper bracket while Bren Esport will be battling for survival with El Ganador Esports in their lower bracket match.