Blacklist International continued their resurgent performance by demolishing Onic Philippines 2-0 for their second straight win in the penultimate week of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 12 at the Shooting Gallery Studios in Makati City on Saturday.
The Tier One-backed squad increased their total to 19 points, holding a 7-5 record and taking a slim lead over the third-running AP.Bren (5-5), who has 18 points.
Blacklist appeared to have regained their form after a disastrous Week 3 campaign where they lost three straight games. Head coach Aniel “Master the Basics” Jiandani attributes their recent success to better preparation for their matches in the second half of the season.
“Gumawa kami ng maraming scenarios. Kapag ganitong player yung naglaro, ganito yung gagawin natin. Kapag ibang player, ito naman gawin natin. Kaya mas naging madali samin yung pagdadraft kasi mas marami kaming ginawa. Yun nga lang mas mahirap talaga kung maraming paikot-ikot na players,” said coach Master the Basics on how they prepared against Onic who has been fielding multiple players in the roamer and exp roles.
In Game 1, Edward “Edward” Dapadap (Edith) scored a decisive double kill during the 10th minute lord dance to help Blacklist secure the lord objective and take control of the match.
The three-time MPL PH champions didn’t look back from there, with Edward achieving a near-perfect 6-1-3 KDA.
Both teams then played a meticulous Game 2, with only one kill conceded in the first 10 minutes of play.
Things took a turn in Blacklist’s favor after a botched lord dance resulted in a pick-off of Dean “Raizen” Sumagui (Baxia), which the Agents converted into the lord objective.
Edward (Terizla) then closed out the series with a highlight reel flicker + Penalty Zone towards Onic’s backline during a 14th-minute base turret siege that sealed the 2-0 victory.
It was Onic’s third straight loss, all via sweeps, as they remained winless after putting together a four-game win streak. They remain in fifth place with 15 points.
