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| BLRW is all smiles after escaping TNCZ4 in the MDL PH quarterfinals. Moonton |
MAKATI--Blacklist-Rough World Era survived a brave stand from TNCZ4 to score a 2-0 sweep at the start of the MDL Philippines Season 3 Playoffs on Friday night at the Shooting Gallery Studios.
Being the third-seeded team after the regular season with the right to pick their quarterfinal foe, Joshua Alfaro admitted after BLRW's match that they quickly took on the opportunity to choose TNCZ4, especially after finding out that jungler Jhonjie "Jiee" Dela Rosa was suspended from all MLBB-related events by Moonton and the Philippine Esports Organization for three years for his alleged involvement in exposed match-fixing schemes.
"Noong time na nalaman na di makakapaglaro si Jiee, kinuha na namin ang opportunity na yun para sila yung makatapat namin," Alfaro said.
However, despite the lack of time to form enough chemistry with Ajay Rubio elevated to the jungle role from the gold lane, TNCZ4 put up a fight and even came close to getting a win from BLRW.
Game 1 saw BLRW needing a little over 21 minutes to beat TNCZ4 despite a 9-2 kill lead due to needing to defend two Lord pushes before securing a late clash win to seal the series opener.
Game 2 saw a similar story as TNCZ4 also had a Lord kill advantage over BLRW, but BLRW decided to go all-in in a team fight right after Rubio secured the third Lord kill for TNCZ4 and won the clash en route to finishing the job in a little over 26 minutes.
Alfaro believes that being in an offline event for the first time ever played a huge factor in having to cope with TNCZ4's gallant stand.
BLRW will take on outright semifinalist RRQ Kaito, which finished the regular season undefeated, in another best-of-three series on Saturday night.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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