Ch4knu and E2MAX: The image of consistency in MPL Philippines

Getting into the pro scene is already a massive achievement for most Mobile Legends: Bang Bang  players. Making the playoffs is another outstanding achievement. But not missing the final four is an achievement on another level that speaks of legendary pro players.

With an impressive 3-0 win against "super team" Echo in Day 1 of the MLBB Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 9, Joshua "Ch4knu" Mangilog is on his sixth final four appearance while teammate Patrick James "E2MAX" Caidic is on his fifth. The duo has been teammates since Season 5 under Execration and later with Omega Esports.

The only other duo to match this feat are world champions Johnmar "OhMyV33NUS" Villaluna and Danerie James  "Wise" Del Rosario of Blacklist International.

The consistency is proof of the duo's brilliance but despite the achievement, E2MAX still had doubts about his skills. Coming into the match against Echo, he thought they were fighting an uphill battle.

"'Yung kalaban namin [Echo] malakas at ahead talaga sila sa amin kaya hindi rin ine-expect [na manalo sa series]," he said.

("Our opponent, Echo, is strong and they are ahead of us so we didn't really expect to win the series.")

With Ch4knu and E2MAX working like a well-oiled machine, Omega fought back again and again to reach the final four once again.

"After nung naging results, naniwala na kami na hindi talaga kami papayag na malaglag agad. Parang nakatatak na yata sa dugo namin na lalaban kami hanggang dulo," E2MAX said.

("After the results, we believed that we would not allow ourselves to get eliminated right away. It's as if it's stamped in our blood that we will fight to the end.")

Despite struggles in the past seasons, which saw them almost missing the playoffs multiple times before making a late push in the regular season, Ch4knu and E2max continued to impress with another outstanding performance in the MPL.

Being a regular fixture in the MPL playoffs since going pro, Ch4knu has had numerous highlight reels, including a superb Tyrant's Revenge + flicker combo followed by a Tyrant's rage in Game 3 of Season 6 that touched off a reverse sweep, en route to the runner-up finish.

This season, he once again delivered in their conquest of Echo, a team that swept them all season long (0-4), taking the reins in a pivotal 22nd minute clash that proved to be the final nail on the coffin for Echo.

"Si Ch4knu ang nag-shotcall nun. Sabi niya, all in na kami sa last fight na 'to," says E2MAX of their last lord fight play that helped them score the sweep despite trailing in the early games for the whole series.

("Ch4knu made that shotcall. He said we're all in with this last fight.")

Ch4knu and E2MAX's brilliance will be one of the keys to Omega's journey towards defending their MSC crown in June 2022.

TNC Pro Team will be standing in their way in Day 2 of the MPL Philippines Season 9 playoffs.

—MGP, GMA News