Blacklist International finally broke into the win column, keeping Bren Esports the lone winless team in the MPL Philippines Season Nine, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon.
The reigning back-to-back champions dropped their first four games to start the season prior to the win against the struggling Bren Esports.
Both squads figured in a tight tussle in Game One, but Bren Esports gained the early advantage with Kenneth “Saxa” Fedellin playing aggressively on his Hayabusa.
Blacklist International, after stalling all game long, took the lead late with a Luminous Lord take at the 17:07-minute mark. The siege coming from the Tier One-backed squad wiped all but one of Bren Esports’ base turrets.
A fight past the 22nd minute forced Bren Esports out of the Lord pit, giving Blacklist International a free run at the objective.
Kiel “OHEB” Soriano then capped off the win with a Triple Kill in the final siege.
The M3 MVP finished with a perfect 8-0-4 KDA in the 15-7 Game One win in 24 minutes and 23 seconds while Kent “Kevier” Lopez’s Ling had four kills and seven assists without a single death.
Just like in the opener, Game Two started with both teams taking equal trades all around the map.
Then, Blacklist International was able to get its much-needed separation after OHEB’s Beatrix stole the Lord in the 10:25-minute mark. A skirmish ensued with Blacklist International taking out four members from Bren Esports.
The M2 World Champions returned the favor, stealing the Luminous Lord from Blacklist International with 14 minutes and 26 seconds in the match. The latter, though, secured a three-for-one exchange to hold the match.
Saxa (Paquito) once again stole the Luminous Lord from Blacklist in the 18:14-minute mark, but got two kills in exchange on David “Flap” Canon (Yu Zhong) and Saxa to prevent a siege from Bren Esports.
After an extended team fight past the 22nd minute, Edward “Edward” Dapadap (Uranus) secured a kill on Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel’s Lylia which gave Blacklist International a free run at the Luminous Lord.
The team then went on for the game-winning siege against a four-man Bren Esports to seal the sweep.
OHEB led the 18-8 Game Two victory, putting up nine kills and four assists against three deaths in 24 minutes and 52 seconds of action.
The Tier One-backed squad kept the sixth slot with five points off a 1-4 standing while Bren Esports remained dead-last at 0-5.
Blacklist International will try to sustain its momentum tomorrow against RSG PH at 8:00 PM while Bren Esports will look for its first win against Omega Esports on Friday at 6:00 PM.
