Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales’ split push in Game Four completed ECHO’s 3-1 win over RSG PH in the upper bracket semifinals of the MPL Philippines Season 10 playoffs, Friday at the Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan in Quezon City.
With the win, ECHO is now guaranteed a top-three finish – the highest of the franchise since taking over from Aura PH in Season Eight – after suffering a first-round exit last season.
This is also ECHO’s first win against RSG PH in Season 10 after losing both their regular season matchups. They snapped a three-game losing streak at the hands of reigning MSC champs which dates back to the second round of the Season Nine regular season.
Meanwhile RSG PH, who was coming off a 3-0 win over ONIC PH yesterday, will continue its title-defense bid in the lower bracket semifinals.
After losing the Lord and giving RSG PH an opening in the 14th minute, ECHO bounced back in Game One by taking out Nathanel “Nathzz” Estrologo (Uranus) and securing the third Lord of the contest in the 19th minute.
ECHO went all out in the following siege, taking out Jhonard “Demonkite” Caranto (Fanny), Nathzz, and Eman “EMANN” Sangco (Claude). Arvie “Aqua” Calderon (Lylia) and Dylan “Light” Catipon (Grock) put up a great defensive stand but eventually fell.
Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, who secured crucial objectives in the win, notched a kill and nine assists against two deaths in Game One. Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya added a 6-1-3 KDA line on Esmeralda while Alston “Sanji” Pabico had a game-high 11 assists along with three kills and a death in 21 minutes.
In Game Two, ECHO leaned on sidelaners Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales (Bruno) and Sanford (Phoveus) to take a 20-9 Game Two win in 23 minutes and 49 seconds.
Bennyqt provided the damage, scoring a game-high 10 kills to go along with three assists while Sanford zoned the entire RSG PH backline in team fights to end up with three kills, two deaths, and 13 assists.
RSG PH denied a sweep following an impressive 25-13 Game Four victory on the back of Nathzz (Esmeralda) and EMANN (Beatrix), who combined for 12 kills, five deaths, and 26 assists in 19 minutes and 13 seconds.
ECHO then bagged Game Four to complete the win.
ECHO takes on the winner between the Blacklist International-Bren Esports in the upper bracket finals tomorrow, Saturday at 11:00 AM while RSG PH will face the loser of the series at 3:00 PM.
