Edward “Edward” Dapadap never expected anything when he started his Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League career back in Season Five.
All he wanted was to play the game that he loves and that’s it.
Fast forward to today, the 18-year-old EXP laner has already achieved so much in his young career and more.
And on Sunday night, Edward added another trophy to his cabinet, winning his second Finals Most Valuable Player award after leading Blacklist International’s 4-2 conquest of ECHO in the MPL Philippines Season 10 grand finals.
“Sobrang saya kasi ‘di ko naman talaga ine-expect ‘to e,” said Edward, who became the only player to win the individual plum twice in the MPL Philippines.
Down 1-2 against ECHO, Edward helped Blacklist International avoid a dangerous situation and led the team to a 22-6 Game Four win to tie the series. He delivered five kills and eight assists against one death in the crucial win.
Edward then scored a clean 2-0-13 KDA on Uranus in the lopsided 20-7 Game Five victory before capping off his spectacular finals performance with three kills and five assists on Paquito in Game Six.
Looking back on his career, Edward, who played in the middle lane in his debut season, said that he never expected anything when he started a couple of years back because he wasn’t really that comfortable playing mage heroes.
His career perspective eventually changed when he finally made the switch to the sidelane in Season Six where he mostly played Tank and Fighter heroes.
That proved to be the turning point of Edward’s career as he helped Blacklist International win its first of three titles in the following season. It was also the same championship run where he won his first Finals MVP award.
“Actually, hindi (ko inexpect) kasi ang baba ng tingin ko dati, ang baba ng tingin ko sa sarili ko nung Season Five. Parang ano ‘di ko kayang mag-champion ganun pero nung nag-switch role ako mas may na-feel akong kakaiba ganun,” shared the M3 World Champion.
Blacklist International head coach Kristoffer “Bon Chan” Ricaplaza, who witnessed Edward blossom from a budding prospect to one of the pillars of arguably the most dominant team in history, could not be more proud of what his prized recruit achieved.
“Sobrang proud dahil sa ganyang edad ang dami na niyang na-achieve, nakapagpatayo ng sariling bahay samantalang ako nung ganyang edad ako taong computer shop,” said Bon Chan, who was the one responsible of bringing Edward to the Tier One-backed squad.
“Lahat sila sobrang proud ako, ‘di lang kay Edward. Lahat sila na sa ganitong edad grabe na yung na-achieve nila.”
