Philippine representatives ECHO and Blacklist International begin their quest for the only missing jewel to their respective collection of accolades – the MLBB Southeast Asia Cup trophy – as the 2023 edition of the regional tourney unwraps on Saturday, June 10, at the Aeon Mall Mean Chey in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Blacklist International and ECHO during the MPL Philippines Season 11 Grand Finals. (MPL Photo)

The current M4 world champion and MPL Philippines Season 11 titlist ECHO is not only looking to keep their championship streak but also hoping to cement the legacy of one of its leaders in Karl “Karltzy” Nepomuceno as one of the greatest to have ever played the game.

The two-time M-series World Champion is only missing the regional crown for him to complete the Mobile Legends Esports trifecta after also having won an MPL title twice already.

Karltzy shared that he was just grateful for another opportunity of conquering all of the ML tournaments.

“Masaya po. Para kumpleto na tapos pwede na magpahinga,” said the MPL PH Hall of Famer.

“Sobrang gusto po talaga namin maipanalo. Bukod sa siyempre para kay Karl, para rin po sa team lalo na dire-diretso po yung napapanalo namin [na tournaments] ngayon tapos [nasa] momentum po kami,” added team roamer Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera.

On the other hand, for Blacklist International, the return to the MSC stage is an opportunity not only to finally win the crown but also to put a conclusion to their unfinished business after a bridesmaid finish in the competition in 2021.

Arguably in the middle of one of the most dominant runs by any esports Mobile Legends team ever having won the M3 world title, two MPL crowns and a SEA Games medal, the MSC was the only major tournament Blacklist couldn’t win during that stretch.

With the doubters and bashers also growing louder, the Codebreakers are dead set on silencing the noise and prove that they are still not past their prime years.

“Aside sa in-game adjustments na kailangan namin i-improve, yung outside that siguro. Yung mental. Kasi isa sa mga sobrang nakakadurog ng utak [yung] matalo ng ganung way sa grand finals. So isa na yun sa mga pineprepare namin. Personally, doon ako nagfofocus din ngayon,” said skipper Jonmar “OhmyV33nus” Villaluna, obviously referring to the teams’ string of futility at the hands of ECHO.

It can be recalled that the Codebreakers and the Orcas figured in grand finals tussles both in the MPL and in the M4 with the latter winning via 4-0 sweeps on both occasions.

ECHO will be the first one to debut in MSC, taking on Team EVO from Laos on Saturday before wrapping up its group stage schedule with a clash against Fire Flux Impunity on Sunday.

Blacklist, on the other hand, will take the centerstage first against Team Occupy on Monday before closing out the groups with a marquee clash against Malaysian powerhouse Todak on Tuesday.