Blacklist zaps Bren Esports; RSG recovers
We ask for more understanding. We are starting to reach our form
Reigning champion Blacklist International finally registered its first win of Season 9 following a 2-0 sweep of Bren Esports in Week 3 of the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) Philippines over the weekend.
With its dynamic duo of Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” del Rosario sidelined, Blacklist struggled as it dropped its first four matches in the most prestigious Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tourney in the country.
But the dry spell didn’t last long as Blacklist finally collected its first win at the expense of Bren Esports, the M2 Season 6 champion who also ruled the M2 World Championship two years ago.
Blacklist coach Kristoffer “BON CHAN” Ricaplaza said they are starting to warm up.
“Like I said before the start of the season, give us two weeks because we really lacked the time to prepare. This is like following a curriculum, we need time to fill the gaps that the team is yet to learn,” BON CHAN said.
“There are more series to come. I promised that we will march forward come the third week. Our plans and timeline are coming to fruition. I hope everything follows.”
“Some fans are already judging us because of the (0-4) start. We cannot blame them because they are used to us winning, even though I have set expectations that we are going to struggle in the first two weeks. We ask for more understanding. We are starting to reach our form.”
Blacklist International has not lost more than once in the group stage for the past two seasons.
But without OhMyV33nus and Wise, Blacklist’s dream of making three-peat history looks shaky when it suffered another loss to RSG PH in Day 3 to drop to 1-5 win-loss card.
RSG, meanwhile, was off to a 4-0 start in the season until it crossed paths with TNC in Day 1 where it lost via 2-0 sweep. They collided with powerhouse ECHO the following day, but lost anew via sweep.
Fortunately for them, order was restored when they redeemed themselves with a victory over M3 World Champion Blacklist in Day 3 of the action-packed Week 3.
“The amount of training that my players feel every day is about the same pressure. The most important thing I tell my players is to not care about winning or losing because that would create so much pressure on your thinking,” RSG coach Changrok “Panda” Im said.