Christian “Iy4knu” Manaog spearheaded RSG PH’s huge 2-1 victory over ONIC PH, handing his former squad its first loss in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League-Philippines Season Eight on Saturday evening.
In the game-clinching Game Three, the former ONIC PH mainstay provided four kills and three assists against just two deaths on his Alice in the 18-7 win to halt his former team’s winning streak at four games.
With the win, RSG PH (3-2) forced a logjam at the number four spot with TNC (2-2), Nexplay EVOS (2-3), and Omega Esports (1-5) with six points each while ONIC PH remained at the top spot with 12 points through a 4-1 standing.
“Binantayan po namin yung mga kilos nila especially si Kairi po saka si Baloy kasi may mga strategies po silang dalawa na ginagawa. Yun talaga yung pinagaralan namin po,” said RSG PH jungler Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto, who notched the SMART 5G MVP honor in Game Three.
Demonkite finished with nine kills and three assists against one death in Game Three, chalking up his first win with the hero Paquito in the MPL. The match lasted for 17 minutes and 17 seconds.
RSG PH took charge in the early game, and then averted a major collapse late in Game One to close out the league-leading ONIC PH, taking an early 1-0 advantage in the series.
After a successful siege that saw them take all but one of ONIC PH’s inhibitor turrets, RSG PH, after starving their opponents of resources, was caught off guard by the men in yellow which resulted in a four-man wipe – leaving Nathanael “Nathz” Estrologo (Thamuz) the lone survivor.
Nathz managed to defend the inhibitor turrets in time for Arvie “Aqua” Calderon (Beatrix) to take over.
RSG PH then took down Mico “Micophobia” Quitlong (Mathilda) and Allen “Baloyskie” Baloy (Grock) for a free Luminous Lord take, before eventually ending the match.
Nathz was named the SMART 5G MVP with six kills and seven assists without a single death in the 16-11 win which lasted for 22 minutes and five seconds.
ONIC PH fought back in Game Two, finishing off RSG PH in 22 minutes and five seconds of action on the back of Nowee “Ryota” Macasa’s Esmeralda, who finished with six kills and three assists.
RSG PH looks to sweep its season series against Bren Esports tomorrow at 8:00 PM while ONIC PH will try to bounce back against defending champion Blacklist International earlier in the day at 6:00 PM.
