Blacklist shutdowns Bigetron Alpha's momentum to start MPLI '21 journey

Blacklist International. Photo from ONE Esports

by Drew Malihan

MANILA - Bigetron Alpha may be programmed to win as they said, but not to break the code.

Two-time MPL Philippines champions Blacklist International made quick work of the Indonesian quintet to start their ONE Esports MPL Invitational campaign in he quarterfinal round.

Blacklist International, fielding their core five of OhMyV33nus, Oheb, Edward, Hadji, and Wise, relied on their signature Ultimate Bonding Experience strategy to take down Bigetron, who were missing the services of Branz and Bravo.

Bigetron Alpha went to a Fanny-Aldous combo with Esmeralda, Baxia, and Pharsa, while Blacklist International went with Estes, Yi Sun-shin, Khaleed, Alice, and Chou.

The Indonesians went to have an early game advantage thanks to Kyy's Baxia and Matt's Esmeralda, getting OhMyV33nus and Hadji mostly and delaying Wise's jungle up to the mid game.

Rippo went on to win the gold lane game against Edward while Matt equalizes with Oheb but with the turtles and objectives going to their side, Blacklist went on to equalize the economy game.

With Edward diving with the Raging Sandstorm in the top lane, Blacklist started their signature UBE strategy to take down two Bigetron members then went to the lord for more advantage.

Blacklist needed two more lords in their side to finally negate the Bigetron defense with their calculated shot calls to a Game 1 win led by Oheb's 6/1/6 outing.

The MPL Philippines champions went with Chou, Harith, Esmeralda, Aldous, and Rafaela, while Bigetron went with the Barats, Pharsa, Yi Sun-shin, Hylos, and a gold lane X.Borg.

Blacklist went on to have a better start in the first game, as Hadji and OhMyV33nus did the early scouting to give Wise the space to get his early game farm.

Esmeralda was the first casualty but it was Blacklist that get the turtle objective and from there it was all Blacklist International as they went all in with the rest if objectives.

With Hadji near and scouting the entire BTR squad near the orange buff, Wise and company went for the Chase Fade on Gamora's Pharsa for a one-hit knockout and it was all down for the Indonesians.

With the game lasting just 16 minutes, Blacklist called GG to axe Bigetron out behind Wise's Aldous 2/0/7 performance.

Blacklist will next face another Indonesian contender, RRQ Hoshi, who took down Malaysian champions Team SMG in their quarterfinal matchup.

Follow him on Twitter: @drewmalihan