Young EXP laner Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya was named Finals Most Valuable Player after leading ECHO to their first-ever MPL Philippines finals victory in Season 11 on Sunday night at the SMX Convention Center.
With Sanford at the helm, ECHO swept Blacklist International, 4-0, avenging their heartbreaking loss to the same team in the Season 10 finals.
“Di ko po inexpect kasi binubuhat lang ako ng team e ang lakas po nila,” said the 16-year-old former Nexplay EVOS standout.
“Wala po akong masabi. Sana kung panaginip ‘man po ‘to hindi na ako magising,” he added.
In the opening game of the series, Sanford disrupted the Tier One-backed squad’s backline while playing as Gloo, and finished with one kill, one death, and five assists.
He was named the match MVP in Game Two after earning five kills, three deaths, and three assists while playing as Lapu Lapu.
In Game Three, he contributed four kills and five assists without a single death while playing as Joy.
Sanford ended the series with a 3-1-7 KDA line in the championship-clinching Game Four win.
