Smart Omega Esports got its wish to face hometown bet Todak granted after being drawn with the Malaysian champions in the first round of the upper bracket playoffs set on Tuesday, June 14.
Omega announced its desire to take on Todak during the post-game presser of its match against RRQ Hoshi on Sunday and was immediately answered after the draw.
“Gusto ko makalaban yung Todak para maganda kasi homecourt advantage sila e para maririnig ko yung mga kampi nila,” said Omega roamer Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog after the Filipino bets settled for a 1-1 draw in its group stage match against RRQ.
Todak, seen as one of the dark horses in the tournament with its unorthodox picks, poses some threat to the defending champion especially after a stellar run in the group stage where it forced a 1-1 draw against Onic Esports which eventually eliminated the Indonesian powerhouse.
Omega on the other hand had a roller coaster group stage run where it split its assignments against IDNS Esports of Thailand and RRQ.
Omega mainstay Billy “Z4pnu” Alfonso admitted that the MPL S9 runner-up were caught off-guard by IDNS in the second game of its match.
“Nasurprise talaga kami dun sa IDNS kumbaga marami rin talaga silang bala kung siguro mga series, or kung sa ibang team sila nakalaban kumbaga lahat magugulat sa drafting nila,” said Z4pnu.
“Walang MPL dun sa bansa nila wala kaming makuhang data kaya para sa akin lason din talaga sila dito sa MSC,” he added.
The winner of the clash between Omega and Todak will take on the team that will emerge victorious in the showdown between EVOS Singapore and RRQ.
Meanwhile on the other side of the bracket, MPL PH champion RSG Philippines faces another formidable foe in Burmese team Falcon Esports which turned heads after it swept Onic Esports in their group stage clash.
The winner between RSG and Falcon will face the better team between RSG SG and Orange Esports.
Losers of the first round of the upper bracket will continue its MSC journey in the lower bracket with their tournament lives on the line.