Echo secured their first-ever Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines title after a dominant 4-0 victory over Blacklist International in the grand finals of the Season 11 playoffs held at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on Sunday.
The MPL finals were a reflection of the M4 World Championship grand finals, where Echo swept Codebreakers in the title showdown.
As a result of their win, Echo and Blacklist International will represent MPL Philippines in the MLBB Southeast Asian Cup 2023, which will take place in Cambodia in June 2023.
Echo got off to a strong start in Game 1 with a dominant early game that saw them establish a 9-0 lead by the 6th minute, led by Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno’s (Lancelot) signature pick.
KarlTzy capped off their dominant display by scoring a triple kill in the 13th minute, finishing Game 1 with a 15-4 kill score and a 5-0-5 KDA.
Echo’s hyper-aggressive play continued in Game 2, led by Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya (Lapu-Lapu), who overwhelmed Blacklist in just 11 minutes.
Sanford’s initiations earned him the match MVP with a 5-3-3 KDA.
In Game 3, Echo continued their momentum, taking their signature Chopu pick that led to superior early game play, leading by as much as 10-1 on the kill score as early as the 7th minute.
Despite a shutdown on KarlTzy (Akai) during a 10th-minute inhibitor turret siege, Echo’s 10k net worth lead helped them reach match point by the 14th minute, and they emerged victorious in Game 4.
It was the first match that went down to the wire, but Echo caught Lee “Howard” Gonzales (Karrie) in the backline during a 14th-minute midlane bush scramble, scoring a pickoff and securing the luminous lord.
Echo didn’t waste any time in scoring a 4-0 wipe in the ensuing base turret siege to take the title.
