Just like what they have been doing over the past year, Blacklist International is once again in a position to write history in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang competitive scene.
The Tier One-backed squad, who won the M3 World Championships in Singapore last year, is on track to become the first team in the ML:BB realm to clinch back-to-back titles in the M-series.
With a possible historic achievement once again on the horizon, team captain Johnmar “OhMyV33NUS” Villaluna said that the team must not lose their focus and double down on their preparations heading in the world tilt.
“Syempre ano, kailangan talaga mag-focus. Yun yung number one and siguro mag-dobleng grind since mas batak yung mga kasama namin this time,” said OhMyV33NUS during the M4 World Championships send-off press conference.
The reigning MPL Philippines champion will go through the gauntlet come the M4 World Stage after they were grouped with rising Southeast Asian teams such as Burn X Flash of Cambodia and Falcon Esports of Myanmar with Incendio Supremacy of Turkey completing Group A.
Indeed, it will be a tougher road for Blacklist International than the previous edition, where they competed against non-MPL teams such as Malvinas Gaming (Argentina) and BEDEL (Turkey). The only MPL team in the group was RED Canids, who won the inaugural MPL Brazil.
Blacklist International head coach Kristoffer “Bon Chan” Ricaplaza reiterated his skipper’s call and said that the team already learned from North American squad BloodThirstyKings, which gave them a run for their money after sending them down the lower bracket during the first phase of the playoffs.
“Syempre expect the unexpected sa mga makakalaban namin. Siguro natuto na rin kami doon sa nangyari nung M3 na yung kalaban namin ay BTK na talagang masasabi natin na naghanda,” said the three-time MPL PH champion coach.
“Ngayon siguro nagsisimula na mag-practice yung mga teams na ka-bracket namin and sigurado samin sila nakatingin dahil ayun nga, iniisip nila na team to beat kaya kailangan din naming mag-handa after ng laro namin sa IESF,” he added.
Blacklist International, after missing the playoffs for the first time in Season Nine, welcomed the return of OhMyV33NUS and Danerie “Wise” Del Rosario in Season 10. Both players played key roles in helping the franchise claim their third title in four seasons.
The team, though, is currently in Bali, Indonesia, representing the Philippines in the 14th IESF World Esports Championships.
Bon Chan said that the team will immediately fly back to the Philippines after fulfilling their national team duties to gear up for the ML:BB world meet.
