Clutch Kairi helps Onic hand Echo their 1st loss of MPL PH S9

Onic Philippines mirrored their Season 8 feat — when they dealt Blacklist International's first loss — with a reverse sweep of erstwhile undefeated Echo, 2-1, behind Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol Game 3 heroics in Week 4 of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 9 on Friday.

Despite leading in the early game of all series matches, Onic Philippines found themselves on the defensive end of Echo's base turret push in the rubber match before Kairi saved the day with a timely burst on two Echo members that quickly ended the match in their favor.

With the win, Onic has now compiled 10pts on a 4-2 win-loss card to rise up to 4th place while Echo slid to their first loss although they still lead the pack with 15pts.

Onic imposed their will early in Game 1, establishing a 3k by 5th minute on the back of Kairi's (Ling) 2-0-2 KDA.

Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales (Phoveus) though carried the comeback fight as he completed a triple kill in the 11th minute to help Echo fend off the Onic's base turret push and extend the match deep into late game.

He once again displayed nerves of steel in the 25th minute when he outplayed Kairi in a bottom lane skirmish that Echo converted into a luminous lord take for the massive reverse, 1-0. Bennyqt finished with a 9-1-10 KDA.

Game 2 was no different as Onic once again lorded over in the early game, totally shutting down Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno (Aulus) who was buried to a 0-3-0 KDA right away courtesy of the Johnson-Kadita combo.

Still, Echo managed to hold on for long stretches until Allen “Baloyskie” Baloy (Johnson) executed a perfect set during the 20th minute on a concealed Echo quadruplet in the midlane bush to secure the luminous lord then another critical set on KarlTzy in the 21st to force a rubber match, 1-1.

Game 3 looked like Echo's for the taking when KarlTzy scored a double kill in a 15th minute 3-1 exchange but Kairi came to the rescue with a counter initiation to force a 4-2 trade off that gave them the series win.

—JMB, GMA News