Photo from Moonton |
by Drew Malihan
MAKATI - Blacklist International needed two grueling series to secure themselves a sure top-four appearance as they outlasted both Minana EVOS and Fnatic ONIC Philippines on Day 1 of the MPL Philippines Season 13 playoffs.
The fifth-seed Codebreakers needed two series wins in one day as they figured in a gauntlet format to start their campaign, the first in the league's history.
Blacklist and Minana EVOS saw themselves in a full five-game series which saw them go back and forth, until Minana EVOS tied the series 2-2 after a 22-minute bout and forced a winner-take-all Game 5.
But Blacklist showed experience is the key as they went on a 9-5 tear of Minana EVOS, with Kenneth "Yue" Tadeo's surprise Pharsa pick contributing to all of Blacklist's kill counts, while dealing the most damage out of anyone in the game.
Fnatic ONIC took the first game of the second round of the play-in thanks to Jomearie "Escalera" delos Santos' 2/0/9 showing with the Grock combined with a 6/0/6 Luo Yi performance from Frince "Super Frince" Ramirez.
However, Yue, Salic "Hadji" Imam, and Edward "Edward" Dapadap came big time in the next three games, catalyzing Blacklist's comeback in Games 2 to 4.
King Cyric "K1NGKONG" Perez even tried to pull off a Ling in Game 3 but to no avail as he was constantly checked by all of Blacklist players, while Stephen "Sensui" Castillo steals all of the buffs needed by the assassin.
The Codebreakers will next see defending champions Falcons AP.Bren in the rematch of last season's finals showdown Thursday inside the SM Southmall Events Center, while Liquid Echo and RSG Philipppines will square off on the same day.
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