ECHO jungler Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno believes that winning an MPL PH title is much harder than bagging an M-series world title.
KarlTzy recently led ECHO to its first franchise title after making quick work of erstwhile champion Blacklist International, 4-0, in the Season 11 grand finals at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
During the post-match interview, the only two-time world champion explained that going up against an All-Filipino field is more challenging than winning a tournament that features the best of the best in the world.
“Opo [mas mahirap sa worlds kesa sa MPL],” KarlTzy told reporters after the grand finals. “
Siguro po eto. Kasi mas matindi yung kalaban dito, lalo na yung RSG sobrang lakas nila. Kasi sa M4, may mga Indo, 3-1 ganun, ‘di ‘man lang naka-game 5 tapos dito bakbakan talaga,” he added.
ECHO won an M-series title first before winning an MPL PH title.
In the Season 11 playoffs, ECHO lost to RSG Slate PH in five games in the upper bracket semifinals before dispatching the top-ranked Bren Esports via a 3-1 win in the lower bracket semis.
The reigning world champion figured in another five-setter against RSG Slate PH in the lower bracket finals but managed to claim revenge by way of a 3-2 win en route to the grand finals.
On the other hand, Team HAQ was the lone foreign team that got close to taking down ECHO in the M4 World Championship playoffs but fell short of its reverse sweep bid as the Filipinos leaned on Alston “Sanji” Pabico’s Yve to get the win.
ECHO dispatched ONIC Esports, 3-1, in the upper bracket semis before losing to Blacklist International in five games in the upper bracket finals. ECHO, which swept the group stage, defeated RRQ Hoshi for the second time in the tournament in the lower bracket finals via 3-1.
“Masarap sa feeling [mag-champion] kasi pangarap naman nilang lahat ‘to saka ako rin. Nakakatuwa lang.”
