AP.Bren continued their surge, nabbing their third win in the last four matches with a a 2-0 sweep of Minana, to inch closer to an outright upper bracket berth in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 12 at the Shooting Gallery Studios, Makati City on Sunday.
The reigning IESF world champions improved to second in the standings with their sixth win in eleven matches and increasing their total to 21 points. They overtook Blacklist International (7-5) who is currently at third with 19 points.
The series was one of the lowest scoring matches throughout the season with only a total of 18 kills registered throughout the series. AP.Bren, known for their hyperaggressive game play, opted to go for a passive approach in Game 2 after what happened in the opener.
“Sabi ko sa players, wag niyo na lang sila hanapin. Hayaan niyo na lang sila lumapit,” said head coach Francis “Duckey” Glindro on their strategy coming into Game 2.
Game 1 boiled down to a lengthy lord dance that lasted for almost three minute before Kyle “KyleTzy” Sayson (Fredrinn) secured that lord that enabled AP.Bren to mount a game-winning base turret siege a minute later.
Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo (Mathilda) took the MVP honors courtesy of a 1-2-5 KDA to lead a close 6-5 kill score.
AP.Bren then slowly choked up Minana’s map from the early goings in Game 2, establishing as much as an 11k gold lead before closing out the series by the 21st minute.
“Unfortunately, Game 2 was supposed to be in Minana’s favor pero lumaban sila. Dapat nagpassive na lang ulit sila. We kind of predicted na rin yung draft nila. I think, if I’m not mistaken, siguro 80% of their draft we predicted,” Duckey continued.
Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano was the only one who conceded a death but finished with a 4-1-1 KDA in the closeout win using the Irithel pick.
Minana is now in a must-win situation as they remain seventh with 13 points. They trail Smart Omega and Onic Philippines who both have 5-6 records and 15 points for the last ticket to the playoffs.
