Blacklist International, RSG Philippines stay alive in MPL PH playoffs

MANILA, Philippines – It's down to four as Blacklist International and RSG Philippines survived ONIC Philippines and Smart Omega, respectively, to stay on track for a finals berth in the Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League Philippines (MPL Philippines) Season 12 and a chance to represent the country in the coming M5 World Championship happening in Manila this December.

Blacklist International, with the right to choose their opponents given their third place finish in the regular season, picked ONIC Philippines. It seemed to be a one sided match-up as Game 1 was finished quickly by the agents in just 10 minutes and 40 seconds.

But ONIC Philippines denied the sweep, keeping up with the agents in Game 2 to equalize. Game 3 saw another back and forth but eventually, it was Blacklist International who moved to match point. ONIC Philippines, however, still had the fight in them, dominating Game 4 and was quick to spot two members of Blacklist International trying to push for the base. Splitting their five-man team, ONIC Philippines defended their base and managed to destroy the base to force a decider.

Knowing what was on the line, Blacklist International once again showed dominance, finally eliminating ONIC Philippines, 3-2, in just over 12 minutes.

In the next do-or-die matchup, Smart Omega led early in the first game against RSG Philippines but the Raiders used Smart Omega's lead against them, going for the aggressive kills to turn the tide for the Raiders and take Game 1.

Game 2 saw a dominant RSG Philippines thanks to John "Irrad" Tuazon and plays with the hero Fanny to push them to matchpoint. The Raiders then wasted no time to win the series, taking Game 3 in yet another dominant fashion at 11-1 to eliminate Smart Omega from the competition, 3-0.

Day 2 of the MPL Philippines Season 12 Playoffs will see ECHO versus Blacklist International at 2 p.m. while AP Bren will face RSG Philippines at 6 p.m. Thursday.