ECHO may have lost the MPL Philippines Season 10 title to Blacklist International, but rising stars Alston “Sanji” Pabico and Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya gained something equally important in that grand finals series – experience.
Both players relished the opportunity to go up against arguably the best team in the world in the Tier One-backed squad in the biggest MPL Philippines stage.
And according to them, the experiences they absorbed throughout the series will help fast-track their respective developments ahead of the M4 World Championships this coming January.
“Para sa akin po sobrang laking experience yung na-gain ko dito lalo na yung nakalaban ko dito sa finals is Blacklist na napakalakas na team, buong buo yung chemistry nila,” said Sanji after the tough 2-4 loss in the finale last Sunday.
(C) MPL PH
“Sobrang laking bagay po nito kasi malalaman pa po namin yung mga kailangan naming ayusin so makakapag-prepare po kami sa M4 at sana hindi na kapusin sa M4,” Sanford echoed.
Entering the playoffs as the second seed, ECHO dispatched RSG PH in the upper bracket semifinals in four games before plummeting down the lower bracket finals after getting swept by Blacklist International.
With their tournament life hanging in the balance, ECHO repeated against RSG PH anew and dethroned the Season Nine champs to bag their ticket to the M4 World Championships and enter the Season 10 grand finals.
ECHO made a good account of themselves in the finale, even leading by 2-1 before the reigning world champions won the next three games to win their third MPL Philippines titles in four seasons.
As tough as it was, Sanji and Sanford, who went up against Blacklist International four times this season, vowed to use this loss and experience as they try to go over the hump come the world series in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“Babawian na lang po namin sila sa M4,” Sanji claimed.
