In-form Blacklist International books return trip to MPL PH Finals, MSC
An in-form Blacklist International moved on cusp of another MPL Philippines title after punching its ticket to the Season 11 Grand Finals following a convincing 3-1 victory over RSG Slate Philippines in the upper bracket finals at the SMX Convention Center on Saturday, May 6.
*Wise celebrates after Blacklist wins its series against RSG. (MPL Photo)*
The Codebreakers came out swinging from the get go, scoring a massive 17-0 Game 1 win which basically set the tone for the defending champions who also booked their second MLBB Southeast Asia Cup appearance. The strong opening from Blacklist carried over in the second game where it outplayed RSG Slate in the crucial clashes in the endgame to claim the second point of the series with a 14-8 win in Game 2. Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo finished with a 6-2-6 line on the Valentina while Lee Howard “Owl” Gonzales ran wild on his Wanwan pick with a 4-1-8 KDA on the Wanwan. RSG showed some resistance in the third game as Nathanael “Nathzz” Estrologo and Eman “Emann” Sangco kept the Raiders alive with gutsy performances on the Esmeralda and Beatrix picks. Emann exploded with a 11-0-4 line while Nathzz added a steady 6-0-7 KDA. With the momentum on its side, RSG Slate looked poised to drag the match to a decider with John “Irrad” Tuazon on the Fanny pick dictating the early game tempo. Blacklist though simply had the patience and composure to keep RSG from ending the match, allowing the M3 champions to extend the match to the late game. That’s when Owl took over especially during the final Lord fight where Blacklist completed a five-man wipe of RSG to secure the series win. Blacklist now awaits its opponent in the finale which will be the winner of the lower bracket finals clash between RSG and ECHO. ECHO, in the earlier game in the day, outlasted top seed Bren Esports, 3-2, to keep its title hopes alive.

The Codebreakers came out swinging from the get go, scoring a massive 17-0 Game 1 win which basically set the tone for the defending champions who also booked their second MLBB Southeast Asia Cup appearance. The strong opening from Blacklist carried over in the second game where it outplayed RSG Slate in the crucial clashes in the endgame to claim the second point of the series with a 14-8 win in Game 2. Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo finished with a 6-2-6 line on the Valentina while Lee Howard “Owl” Gonzales ran wild on his Wanwan pick with a 4-1-8 KDA on the Wanwan. RSG showed some resistance in the third game as Nathanael “Nathzz” Estrologo and Eman “Emann” Sangco kept the Raiders alive with gutsy performances on the Esmeralda and Beatrix picks. Emann exploded with a 11-0-4 line while Nathzz added a steady 6-0-7 KDA. With the momentum on its side, RSG Slate looked poised to drag the match to a decider with John “Irrad” Tuazon on the Fanny pick dictating the early game tempo. Blacklist though simply had the patience and composure to keep RSG from ending the match, allowing the M3 champions to extend the match to the late game. That’s when Owl took over especially during the final Lord fight where Blacklist completed a five-man wipe of RSG to secure the series win. Blacklist now awaits its opponent in the finale which will be the winner of the lower bracket finals clash between RSG and ECHO. ECHO, in the earlier game in the day, outlasted top seed Bren Esports, 3-2, to keep its title hopes alive.