Echo successfully bounced back from a stinging Week 4 loss by opening their Week 5 campaign with a 2-1 conquest of Blacklist International in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 11 on Friday.
It was their 7th season win against one loss to improve to 18pts and take a momentary tie with Bren Esports (6-1). Blacklist fell to 4-4 but kept their place in the fourth spot with 12pts.
Contrary to their previous match-ups though, Echo failed to sweep Blacklist due to a difficult Game 2 draft that saw them put Dyrroth in the jungler role.
“Medyo hindi namin nadefend yung lane kasi sa middle lane, diggie. Di namin inaasahan na pupunta siya sa exp (lane). Akala namin dedepensa sa gold kaya nahirapan kami magrespond. Kaya walang nangyari kay Yawi sa mid,” explained assistant coach Robert “Trebor” Sanchez on their Game 2 loss.
Game 1 boiled down to a crucial 19th-minute team fight where Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno (Lancelot) contested the blue buff of Danerie “Wise” Del Rosario (Alice) that forced Blacklist to respond.
Echo then used the distraction to execute a timely backline attack leading to a 4-2 exchange led by Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya’s (Yu-Zhong) double kill to take the opener.
Blacklist responded massively in Game 2 buoyed by Kenneth Carl “Yue” Tadeo (Valentina) who was at a 3-0-3 KDA by the 6th minute to lead a 6-2 lead on the kill tally.
The Codebreaker did not look back from there and used a 4-0 wipe during the 10th-minute base turret invasion to score the equalizer, 1-1
It was back to Echo dominance in the rubber match though as Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera (Ruby) provided accurate ‘I’m Offended’ set-up plays to negate any form of comeback.
His set-up play in the dying moments led to a pick-off that sparked the game-winning base turret push to take the series.
