ONIC Philippines saw everything they worked hard for crashing right before their eyes last Sunday night.
The Filipinos – after losing their best-of-one match to sister team ONIC Esports in the group stage – have been dominant since.
They took out Todak and Vivo Key with ease to secure the top seed in Group D. Then they put up a dominant sweep of the upper bracket to enter the grand finals with all the momentum on its side.
What came next, however, was definitely unexpected.
Blacklist International, who already went through a total of five matches in the last five days, overpowered the once-mighty ONIC PH via a 4-0 sweep to win the world title.
What was once deemed as a tight matchup between the two Filipino bets turned out to be a lopsided one with ONIC PH receiving the short end of the stick.
“Actually ano, siyempre to be honest after nung match medyo na-down kami,” ONIC PH manager Milly Dolor told Tiebreaker Times. “Siyempre ‘di mo naman maiiwasan na malungkot, na manghinayang.
“Siyempre kailangan maging okay, kailangan naming mag move on so moving forward kailangan naming umuwi, mag empake, pero nandun pa rin yung panghihinayang siyempre,” she added.
Making matters worse, the team, who was already physically and mentally exhausted after the unfortunate loss, was left with nothing to eat after arriving at the hotel.
“Tapos ‘pag balik ng hotel ang nangyari kasi nun, meron naman kaming food provided by the hotel, however, malamig na talaga siya hindi na siya okay kainin,” shared Dolor.
Indeed, it was a tough night for the ONIC contingent.
But just like in the grand finals, something unexpected came. Only this time, they’re at the winning end of the stick.
“After the final game, I messaged sir Carlo [Giron] and asked where are they but he said they left already,” said Carla Cardinez, the same fan that brought ONIC PH and Blacklist International Filipino dishes during the first round of the playoffs.
“He asked ate Celle [Cadavos] kung nag dinner na ba ang Blacklist kasi ‘di pa sila nag di-dinner, so na curious ako why,” she added.
Upon knowing ONIC PH’s situation, Cardinez offered to help the team find an open restaurant that will deliver food to the team.
“So I took the initiative to help them find some store na open pa then mag pa grab ng food. But then dito sa SG, yung 7/11 is until 10:30 lang and malayo yung Sentosa to deliver them,” explained the 24-year-old Cardinez.
With no options left, Cardinez, who just got home after more than an hour of travel from Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, went out of her way to prepare food for the hungry ONIC PH.
“Nung nakarating ako sa house after watching the game, buo na yung isip ko na mag cook na lang ng food sa kanila because nakakaawa na wala silang makain,” said Cardinez.
“For me, they don’t deserve to be starved after representing the country,” she added.
With the team’s morale down, Dolor said that Cardinez’s gesture helped the squad cope with the heartbreaking loss.
And for that, she’s forever grateful.
“Somehow yes kasi ano, we really, really appreciate it na talagang nagkusa siya mag luto galing siyang venue nag luto pa siya. Pagod din siya eh, galing siyang venue chineer niya yung ONIC tapos ayun, sobrang na-touch kami kasi sobrang namiss namin yung Filipino food,” she said.
“Yung ginawa ni Carla is nakakatuwa talaga. Thankful kami kasi pinagluto niya kami. Nagluto siya para sa amin gabing gabi na, nagluto siya ng shrimp and then nag saing pa siya tapos pinadala doon mismo sa Sentosa,” Dolor added.
For Cardinez, who was there to support both ONIC PH and Blacklist International since the opening day, she’s just happy to lift her idols’ spirits up especially at a time like that.
“I’m flattered and happy. Because even though natalo sila sa game, may part ako nagawa to console them. They are still champions in our hearts,” said the Negros Occidental native.
“It’s a great privilege to witness this kind of event. Like a dream come true, seeing the evolution and progress ng esports worldwide. It’s like you don’t want to miss a chance kasi once ka lang makaka-experience,” she added.
It was a surreal moment for Cardinez, who has been playing Mobile Legends since 2017.
But what made the M3 World Championship even more worthwhile for Cardinez, who left the Philippines in 2019 to work as a preschool teacher in Singapore, is the fact that it brought her closer to home.
And it’s an experience that she will never ever forget.
