Blacklist's UB hopes shut down with upset loss vs. TNC

Photo from MPL Philippines

by Drew Malihan

MAKATI - TNC Pro Team, already eliminated in playoff contention, regains their late Season 11 form as they upset playoff-heading Blacklist International, two games to none, in their penultimate match of MPL Philippines Season 12 Saturday.

It was only the second win for the Phoenix Army, with the last win going back to Week 1 against Minana EVOS where Kristofer "Hesu" Calderon led the team to glory, meanwhile Blacklist's upper bracket hopes were shut down after a two-series win streak.

John Vincent "Innocent" Banal led TNC Pro to an almost 13-minute Game 1 victory with five kills and four assists with the Bruno, contributing to 90 percent of all TNC kills in a 10-6 outing against Blacklist.

The Agents were outclassed by Jemson "Scholar" Ignacio's boys, shutting down Kiel "Oheb" Soriano's Claude with 1/3/3 KDA, meanwhile Ben "Benthings" Maglaque's surprise pick of the roam Novaria contributed to nine assists to TNC as well.

It took 33 minutes for both sides but it was the Phoenix Army who secured the series with a low-scoring 12-10 back and forth win against Blacklist, which saw six lords and several lead changes, but King Cyric "K1NGKONG" Perez's Fanny made the difference in the late game, eyeing for Oheb's more squishy Claude as well as Kenneth "Yue" Tadeo's Gord.

The assassin specialist took the MVP nod with three kills and three assists while Benthings' roam Novaria pick grabbed one kill and assisted in nine other.

A crucial pick-off from Innocent's Beatrix to Renejay "Renejay" Barcase's Khufra spelled the end for the Agents, as the enhanced lord was marching on the top lane, prompting Blacklist to defend to no avail as Innocent finished off two more to claim the victory.

TNC will try to deny another upper bracket hopeful in RSG Philippines, while Blacklist will try to bounce back against AP.Bren in the last game of the regular season tomorrow.


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