ECHO punched its ticket to the 2023 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup playoffs after sweeping Group A capped off by a 2-1 win against Fire Flux Impunity, at the Aeon Mall Mean Chey in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Sunday night.
The reigning MPL Philippines champion posted a clean 2-0 record in the group stage.
With Fire Flux Impunity threatening to comeback, Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera (Kaja) and Alston “Sanji” Pabico (Kadita) tried to pickoff Emre “Sunshine” Sari (Melisssa) but was perfectly red by the opposing side which resulted to a death for Yawi.
However, that time they provided proved to be enough for the rest of their teammates to take the fourth Lord of the contest entering the 20th minute.
Fire Flux Impunity tried to initiate due to Yawi’s absence but it fired back as Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya (Terizla) pulled off a five-man Penalty Zone which sealed the Game 1 win for ECHO.
Sanji finished with seven kills and seven assists against two deaths while Sanford had three kills, two deaths, and eight assists in the 17-8 win which lasted for 20 minutes.
ECHO looked like it was about to wrap it up in Game 2 but a crucial turnaround at the 10th minute Lord fight gave Fire Flux Impunity the opening they needed to send the series to a Game 3.
“Nagusap-usap kami kung ano yung kailangan naming linisin kasi feeling namin ibibigay nila ulit yung Wanwan ng Game 3 so sobrang prepared nila doon,” said ECHO head coach Archie “Tictac” Reyes.
Furkan “APEX47” Akbulut (Minotaur) tallied a team-high 11 assists in the 15-minute Game 2 win while Sidar “Kyura” Menteşe (Aamon) had five kills, two deaths, and three assists.
After the sorry loss, ECHO regrouped and quickly dispatched Fire Flux Impunity via a lopsided 18-0 win in Game 3 and finished it up in just 11 minutes and 17 seconds.
The playoffs will begin on June 15, Thursday at the same venue.
