Execration upsets defending champs Bren, barges into lower bracket finals

Execration mounted the arguably the greatest comeback in league history as they reverse swept defending champs Bren Esports, 3-2, to advance to the lower bracket finals across Aura PH in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 7 playoffs on Saturday.

Bren opened the series with a dominant Game 1 display, posting a 22-9 kill tally courtesy of a flawless performance of Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno's Ling who finished with a 6-0-12 KDA. Allan "Lusty" Castromayor (Khufra), who was instrumental in their early game exploits, complemented with a 4-2-15 KDA

It was still Bren's for the taking in Game 2, controlling the early game while securing all the turtle buffs but an 8th minute clash, where Renzio took down KarlTzy (Claude) and Cartilo "Ribo" Jagdon (Khaleed) helped Execration equalize on the gold tally despite falling behind by as much as 4k in the early game.

But a 13th minute Luminous Lord take by Bren, where Lusty sacrificed himself for the objective, led to a 15th minute conquest of all Execration inhibitor turrets.

Execretion were on the defensive from then on and a couple of misplays in the lord area at the 25th minute enabled Bren to complete 3-0 and take Game 2 thereafter.

Bren looked poised to sweep Execration when they took over the early and midgame and a Luminous Lord take in the 12th minute allowed Bren to wipe all Execretion turrets from the map while taking a 15k gold lead.

But Execration held on forcing the match to go over the 40mins mark through calculated defensive stands, eventually leading to a superb Tyrant's revenge + flicker combo by Joshua "Ch4knu" Mangilog's Khufra followed by a Tyrant's Rage and a Feathered Airstrike by Caidic "E2MAX" James (Pharsa) that took down three Bren members in a flash as Execretion finally took a game in the series, 2-1.

Execration looked like a team with a mission in Game 4 as they forced a 3-0 takedown, including KarlTzy (Yi Shun Shin), in the 5th minute turtle clash to take control of the game.

Ch4knu (Jawhead) set the tone for the dominant win in Game 4 with a 3-2-9 KDA, circled around accurate initiations and picks offs with his Ejector combos. Kelra (Harith) once again lorded over the gold lane as he annihilated Ribo on the way to finishing with a spotless 7-0-7 KDA.

Game 5 was a nip-and-tuck affair from the get go until Execration score a 3-0 wipe courtesy of a solid disruption provided by Renz "Renzio" Cadua (Gloo) and a timely Blazing Duet by Kiel "Keilvj " Hernandez in an 11th minute clash in the middle lane, leading to a Luminous Lord take and drop all Bren inhibitor turrets.

Execration then made the right initiation in the 16th minute to cripple Bren's last stand and upset the reigning world champions.

—JMB, GMA News