Nexplay Evos made sure to make a lasting impression in Season 11 as they completed a reverse sweep of Blacklist International, 2-1, to finish the season on a high note in the final week of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines at the Shooting Gallery Studios on Sunday.
NXPE will exit Season 11 with 15 points courtesy of a 4-10 record as they finish seventh overall. Blacklist still has to wait for the final match this season to make sure they take the third spot in the postseason which will give them the incentive of choosing their opponent in the first round.
For NXPE head coach Joshua Alfaro, the win was a welcome development and a statement performance for the team as they proved they belong in the league despite missing the playoffs.
“Sa totoong, para samin gusto na lang namin magkaron ng statement talaga na kaya pa namin lumaban. Kaya namin ilabas lahat na kahit na sabihing non-bearing [yung game vs Blacklist] para sa iba. Samin, this is the first time na lumaban ang team,” he said.
In Game 1, NXPE opted to go with an early game heavy draft with Bien “BoyetDR” Chumacera’s Fanny but Blacklist veered away from team fights and secured the objectives to easily establish an 8k net worth lead.
The Neon Tigers though held on and managed to extend the game deep into late game with Blacklist needing to punish BoyetDR’s overextension to score a pickoff and secure the 20th-minute lord for the opening win, 1-0.
Game 2 was totally different though as it was Nexplay Evos who dominated Blacklist, conceding only one death during the final moments as the Neon Tigers finished with a massive 17-1 scoreline.
BoyetDR (Joy) played tremendously and secured the MVP honors for Game 2 with a 4-0-4 KDA.
Nexplay then shrugged off an 8k net worth deficit with a genius conceal play from Borris James “BruskoDR” Parro (Lolita) that sparked a 5-1 wipeout plus the evolved lord to erase the deficit and end the series by the 20th minute.
“Yung time po kasi na nawalan po ng ulti yung Gloo saka Faramis sa [may blue buff]. Tas ano, nung nasa wide bush po kami, nakita ko po kasi na nagceclear yung Wanwan sa top. Tapos sabi ko pwedeng concealan to tapos flickeran ko. Ayun, dun po. Tapos nabigla sila,” said Brusko on the nifty conceal play that helped NXPE complete a comeback victory in the rubber match.
