Blacklist International’s jungler, Danerie “Wise” Del Rosario, silenced his doubters by making a surprise assassin pick in the team’s first-round victory over rival Omega Esports in the MPL Philippines Season 11 playoffs on Thursday afternoon.
Wise, who popularized tank picks in the jungle, used Lancelot in Game One of Blacklist International’s 3-0 victory over the SMART-backed squad at the SMX Convention Center.
The three-time MPL PH champion finished with three kills and seven assists against one death on the assassin hero in the 14-6 Game One win, which lasted for 19 minutes and 31 seconds.
Wise revealed that it was team captain Johnmar “OhMyV33NUS” Villaluna who suggested the hero to him back in the regular season. According to him, his familiarity and confidence with the team played a major factor in his decision to use the hero.
“Pinag-usapan namin yun nung regular season pa lang. Sinuggest ni V33 na mag-Lancelot ako ganun. Sabi ko Fredrinn muna, pero ngayon kasi playoffs na e. Iba na kasi talaga yung sa playoffs saka sa regular season,” said Wise after the win.
“Confident din talaga ako sa team ko ngayon na kahit anong gamitin ko kaya napa-Lancelot din ako and Guinevere kasi confident ako sa kahit anong gamitin namin ngayon,” he added.
Wise also stated that the difference in how Lancelot is being played now compared to before, as well as the boost given by OhMyV33NUS, also played a role in his decision to use the hero in the playoffs.
“Malaking factor yun kasi tank siya e. Hindi siya malambot kaya kaya kong gamitin,” said Wise.
“Kahit naman walang ganito [interview], nasasabi niya naman sakin. Nakakaboost talaga siya sa way ng paglalaro ko and sa ano ko, sa mindset,” he added.
OhMyV33NUS, meanwhile, praised the former ONIC PH jungler for his impressive outing on Lancelot – which he last used back in Season 6 – and even called him one of the best multi-roles in the league.
“Sinuggest ko siya draft-wise kasi feeling ko kasi kakailanganin din namin siya sooner or later. At the same time more than anyone kasi kilala ko talaga si Wise personally, marami talaga siyang alam,” said the reigning MPL PH MVP.
“Para sa akin nga si Wise ang isa sa mga best multi-role na naglalaro ngayon sa MPL. ‘Di lang niya masyado pang napapakita kasi nga since jungler siya. Para sa akin kasi mas madali talaga manalo if tank,” she added.
Blacklist International will take on Bren Esports, a team they have yet to beat this season, in the upper bracket semifinals tomorrow, Friday, at 1:00 p.m.
