M3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

MobaZane on BTK upset over PH's Blacklist: 'I don't think they took us as seriously as they should have'

SINGAPORE—North American team BloodThirstyKings (BTK) scored the biggest upset so far after taking down the Philippines' Blacklist International in an upper bracket match in the ongoing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M3 World Championship here.

For BTK's Michael "MobaZane" Cosgun, Blacklist — dubbed as one of the strongest, if not the strongest team in the tournament — didn't seem to be in its element in the match as the American representatives pulled off a shocking 3-2 victory.

"I think we just played better than them this whole day. I think we're more prepared than them, we haven't been easy on ourselves ever since coming into this tournament," said MobaZane in the post-match press conference.

"And I don't think they took us as seriously as they should have."

MobaZane also said it's understandable that odds were in Blacklist's favor heading into the tournament.

After all, the Filipinos were back-to-back MPL Philippines champions and are considered as contenders that could replicate the success of fellow Filipino team Bren Esports, who ruled the M2 early this year.

"I think they were right to doubt us because we don't have nearly as many achievements as a team like Blacklist does and they were just proven wrong," added MobaZane.

"Even though our region isn't specifically the strongest in Mobile Legends, we really worked hard. I'm not  surprised that a lot of fans really wanted Blacklist to win but I'm not surprised that we won either."

With the win, BTK advanced in these playoffs, securing a place in the upper bracket semifinals.

The Philippine team, meanwhile, dropped to the lower bracket where it will face either Onic Esports of Indonesia, another pre-tournament favorite that suffered upset losses, or Team SMG of Malaysia.

—JMB, GMA News