Allen “Baloyskie” Baloy and Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol are on a mission this MPL Philippines Season Nine.
The goal? To prove to everyone that the squad, which endured a couple of heartbreaking losses in the past year, can move past from it and win it all.
“Gusto naming patunayan na hindi lang kami pang runner up.
“Hindi lang dito sa Piliponas, pati sa ibang bansa,” said the ONIC PH skipper Baloyskie moments after the team’s opening day 2-1 win over defending champion Blacklist International.
ONIC Philippines was a series away from securing its first title in franchise history back in Season Eight, but ended up losing the crown to Blacklist International.
Two months later, ONIC Philippines once again found itself in a title chase. This time, it was on the biggest stage of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang — the M3 World Championships.
The team, however, suffered the same fate once again — falling at the hands of the streaking Blacklist International in another lopsided grand finals affair.
Despite it all, ONIC PH remained defiant. The team licked its wounds quickly and entered Season Nine with a chip on its shoulders.
“Unang una po sa lahat gusto po namin mag number one sa regular season, tapos ipagpapatuloy lang namin yung lakas namin na mag dominate hanggang mag playoffs tapos mag champion,” said Kairi, who stood out in ONIC PH’s debut win.
“Yun yung goal namin this season,” he added.
Surely, ONIC PH lived up to its battle cry in the opener. The MPL Philippines Season Eight grand finalist took out its tormentor in just 14 minutes with Kairi’s signature Lancelot leading the way.
He had seven kills and three assists in Game One while Baloyskie supplied six assists and a kill on Pharsa. The two combined for just three deaths in the match.
ONIC Philippines fumbled its early lead in Game Two, but managed to close out Blacklist International in a hard-fought Game Three.
Kairi was stellar anew with eight kills and seven assists against two deaths on Paquito while Baloyskie registered a game-high 12 assists laced with three kills and three deaths on Yve.
ONIC Philippines will take on Nexplay EVOS next on Sunday at 4:00 PM.
