Blacklist takes down RRQ Hoshi in semis of MPL Invitational

Blacklist International had to dig deep in a lengthy rubber match to conquer Indonesia's RRQ Hoshi, 2-1, in the semifinals of the Mobile Legend: Bang Bang Profesional League (MPL) Invitational 2021 on Sunday.

The Tier One-backed squad has now duplicated the feat of compatriot team Bren Esports who also made it into the finals of the MPLI 2020.

After surrendering the first blood in Game 1 to RRQ, Blacklist slowly mounted the pressure, opening with a 2-0 pick off in the 5th minute that helped them take down two outer turrets and then scored another 2-0 in the 10th minute to take full control of the match.

It was all Blacklist from there as they cruised to a 14-4 kill domination and completely shutdown the highly touted RRQ goldlaner Schevenko David “Skylar” Tendean (Aldous), who finished with a paltry 1-4-2 KDA.

Edward Jay “Edward.” Dapadap (Paquito) scored the crucial initiations, including a clutch 1-on-1 pick off on RRQ jungler Albertt that led to a luminous lord take for Blacklist. He finished with a 3-0-9 KDA.

The Indonesian "Kings of Kings" turned the table in Game 2 as they drubbed the Philippine champions with a 14-2 kill rampage in a 13-minute conquest.

Albertt (Yi Sun shin) had a perfect performance with a 3-0-10 KDA while Firm Priest “Psychooo.” Firdaus played superbly with his comfort Yve that proved to be the biggest thorn for the Philippine side as he finished with a 5-0-8 KDA, including a crucial double kill in the 9th minute that gave RRQ the momentum.

In Game 3, Blacklist imposed themselves in the early game after pickoffs on Albertt (Yi Sun shin) but RRQ slowly snowballed and overturned a 6k gold lead in the late game.

The Indonesians scored a 2-1 exchange in the 22nd minute after Edward (Esmeralda) committed a zoning mistake, but it was Blacklist who put pressure in the lord fight that resulted in a wipeout for the win.

—JMB, GMA News