MPL PHILIPPINES

Omega dethrones Blacklist, books last ticket to playoffs

Omega Esports secured their spot in the playoffs in dramatic fashion with a 2-0 sweep of Blacklist International in the final week of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 9 on Saturday.

It was a measure of revenge for Omega who finished third in Season 8 and missed the M3 World Championship after they fell to Blacklist in the lower bracket finals last season.

Blacklist missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history after a tumultuous season that saw them lose eight of their first nine season matches. They finished their season with a 3-11 record and 14 points, two points off of sixth place Nexplay Evos.

It was Omega who first imposed their will in the opener, posting a 10-4 kill spread but the M2 world champions put together six unanswered kills, including two lord takes to wrestle control.

Omega though caught an out of position Kent Xavier "Kevier" Lopez (Ling) in the 16th minute that touched off a luminous lord take and a 3-1 wipe that helped Omega secure the opening win.

With their backs against the wall, Blacklist played Game 2 with urgency taking the lead in the early game before Omega responded with pickoffs in the midgame.

The two teams then engaged in a lengthy late game showdown that saw five lord takes until Omega scored a decisive 4-1 wipe in a 29th minute clash to dispatch the defending champions.

—MGP, GMA News