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| Photo from MPL Philippines |
by Drew Malihan
MANILA – Esports moves faster than any other sport we've come to know and love. While dynasties in basketball, football, and even motorsports can last for years, the same cannot be said for competitive gaming. This is especially true for Blacklist International, once a dominant force in the professional Mobile Legends: Bang Bang scene.
Since winning their third MPL Philippines trophy two years ago, the Codebreakers have watched as other teams snatched the crown in four different finals—just in 2023 alone. Last season, they clawed their way to a twice-to-beat spot, only to finish fourth after a 1-3 defeat to RSG Philippines, which sparked a massive roster shakeup.
Beloved Blacklist players Kenneth "Yue" Tadeo, Renejay "Renejay" Barcase, Edward Jay "Edward" Dapadap, and Stephen Jasper "Sensui" Castillo all left. While Sensui took his talents to Malaysia, the rest became part of a new MPL PH team, Aurora. Even coaches Aniel "Master the Basics" Jiandani and Dexter Louise "Dex Star" Alaba joined the trio.
The biggest blow, however, was the departure of icons Danerie James "Wise" del Rosario and Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna, who are now Aurora's new content directors.
Seven new players were brought in to complete a ten-man roster, and Kristoffer Ed "Bon Chan" Ricaplaza and Mark Jayson "Eson" Gerardo got new backroom support with Kurt William "Super Kurt" Recto and Jayson "BomBi" Echem.
The Rough Ride
Blacklist International’s mission hit turbulence from the start. The Tier One Entertainment-backed team fielded eight players in their first seven series, trying out four different player combinations. Salic "Hadji" Imam even played as a roamer for four series before settling into the midlane role, while Kiel "Oheb" Soriano didn’t play until their fourth series.
In their first six matches, the Codebreakers found themselves at the bottom of the table, failing to win any series. Their only victory during this stretch was a Game 1 win against Fnatic ONIC Philippines in Week 1. Things got worse as they were swept in their next four games.
Off the battlefield, there were also struggles. Comments made by their head of MLBB operations, Julius "Banoobs" Mariano, during the kick-off press conference regarding the players leaving Blacklist stirred up drama in the first two weeks.
It wasn't until their last match of the first half of the regular season, on September 7, that they finally grabbed a crucial point against fellow strugglers TNC Pro Team. Captain Hadji led the way with Faramis and Luo Yi.
Finding Their Form
Since their win against TNC, Bon Chan stuck with a consistent lineup: Hadji, Oheb, Michael "MP The King" Endino, John "Perkz" Sumawan, and Jhon Marl "Lord JM" Sebastian. The team lost to Smart Omega and Fnatic ONIC PH in the second half's opener, but from there, a different Blacklist emerged.
They won four of their next five series, including impressive victories over Falcons AP.Bren and new rivals Aurora Gaming, to close out the regular season.
Blacklist International has historically been one of the fastest teams to adapt to midseason patch updates, and this season was no exception. Their resurgence coincided with a patch update before Week 6.
As the weeks progressed, they stuck with their winning lineup, narrowly defeating RSG Philippines to secure the final playoff spot.
Perks of Having Perkz
Of the eight players Blacklist fielded, Perkz, their main roamer, has been one of the standouts. Coming off a breakout season with Minana EVOS, the 20-year-old improved his stats under Coach Bon Chan’s guidance. His average deaths dropped from 3.00 last season to 2.58, while his assists per game rose from 5.18 to 6.83. His teamfight participation also increased from 64.21% to 71.25%.
Perkz expanded his hero pool from five to seven this season, with Tigreal becoming a go-to pick after the Week 6 patch. He used Tigreal six times in three weeks, winning five of those matches.
With Perkz starting from Week 4 and pairing with Hadji, who returned to his midlane role, the synergy between the two players became evident. Perkz’s performance freed Hadji from tanky roamer duties and allowed him to thrive as a Pos 4.
What Lies Ahead?
Blacklist will face their historic rivals, Smart Omega, in the first round of the playoffs. Blacklist hasn't defeated Omega since April 27. It will be a tough match against Omega, who have surprised everyone by securing a spot in the six-team bracket and denying Fnatic ONIC PH an immaculate regular season.
This upcoming match will be the ultimate test to see if Blacklist’s newfound form is enough to quench Omega’s thirst for MPL glory and a return to the world championships, or if their momentum will come to a halt.
Just as Blacklist International once reigned supreme, esports' fast-paced, ever-changing nature has now placed them in the unfamiliar position of fighting to regain their throne. In traditional sports, dynasties can persist for years, but in esports, the cycle of dominance spins rapidly. This tournament shows just how quickly the tides can turn.
With new lineups, fresh challenges, and unpredictable updates, Blacklist’s regular season journey exemplifies how esports dynasties must adapt or fade. Whether they can break the code and rise again remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—MPL PH fans should never get too comfortable.
Follow him on X: @DMalihan_DPH
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