Team Liquid PH scored their fourth win with a 2-0 sweep of Blacklist International to conclude Week 3 of the MPL Philippines Season 14 on Sunday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.
With the win, Team Liquid (3-2) forced a tie for the fourth spot in the standings with Smart Omega.
Despite a dominating Game 2 victory, TLPH had to endure a close encounter in Game 1 that needed a clutch diversion play before finally putting away Blacklist in a 21-minute showdown.
“Sa Game 1 medyo nahirapan kami sa composition nila, yung Hylos-Lolita. Medyo nacounter kami dun. Tapos ang ganda ng ginawa ng players ko kasi sumubsob yung Hylos dun sa lord fight ta’s naabangan nila kaya nabaliktad yung scenario,” said TLPH assistant coach Eric “Cyre” Mercader on how they survived a tough opening game against Blacklist.
“Nung nanalo sila sa fight na yun nakuha nila yung lord tapos nahawakan na nila yung map.”
Game 1 came down to a Lord fight in the 21st minute, where Alston “Sanji” Pabico executed a brilliant three-man Diversion play from the Lord pit to the bottom lane.
This allowed them to successfully execute their iconic split-push strategy, quickly breaking the equilibrium and securing the opening victory.
In Game 2, TLPH delivered a shutout victory on a 10-0 kill score that was spearheaded by Sanji’s (Faramis) 2-0-8 KDA.
It was Blacklist’s sixth straight loss as they remain in the bottom of the standings with a 0-6 record.
Team Liquid will next face Aurora on Saturday, September 7, before closing out the first half of the season against Smart Omega on Sunday, September 8.
