After failing to qualify for the playoffs last season, Blacklist International are now back on top after a dominant 4-2 win over ECHO at the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 10 (MPL PH Season 10).
This is the M3 champions’ third title in the league after their back-to-back grand final run in Seasons 7 and 8. Blacklist is also the first team to win three championships in the league since Season 1.
Blacklist secured the first grand final slot after they narrowly took down Bren Esports with a 3-2 record in the upper bracket quarterfinal, then sweeping ECHO in the upper bracket final.
After being sent to the lower bracket final, ECHO bounced back and eliminated defending champion RSG PH, 3-1, to book a grand final rematch with the Tier One-backed squad.
Blacklist International reclaim the crown with a 4-2 match score against ECHO
Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario opened the series with an off-meta Valentina jungle, finishing strong with a 7/0/5 record.
In the second game, ECHO countered Blacklist’s Faramis-Estes combo with Valir, the first time the hero was used in the league. The Orcas’ strategy worked, equalizing the series in dominating fashion. Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya led the third game on Grock with his well-timed Guardian Barrier to get the 2-1 lead.
After a one-sided game four in favor of Blacklist International, Salic “Hadji” Imam led the fifth on Pharsa after getting a Maniac at the 17-minute mark, which led to the wipeout. Blacklist never looked back and ended the game in just 13 minutes on top of a 19-7 kill score.
Blacklist dominated throughout the sixth and final game. They sealed the deal at the 16-minute mark after Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna’s Lolita caught three members with Noumenon Blast, leading to a 5-0 wipeout.
Instead of securing the Luminous Lord, all five members of Blacklist went straight to the midlane and destroyed the inner and base Turret, and the crystal to win the series.
EXP laner Edward “EDWARD” Dapadap was awarded his second grand final MVP in the league and will take home US$1000. As for Blacklist, they will receive the lion’s share of the $150,000 prize pool.
Both ECHO and Blacklist International will represent the country at the M4 World Championship in Indonesia early next year.
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READ MORE: Full list of the MPL PH Season 10 Hall of Legends inductees