Rookie who? Dominic proves he belongs with SEA Games gold

Coming into the 31st Southeast Asian Games, some personalities in the Mobile Legends professional scene doubted the chances of the Philippines defending the MLBB gold medal given the inclusion of two rookies who had no prior experience at this level of play.

One of these rookies is 19-year old exp laner Kyle "Dominic" Soto, a Radiologic Technology student at the De La Salle Health and Science Institute in Dasmariñas. He did not only prove the doubters wrong but also showed that his prowess is as good as anybody in the professional scene and the world in helping the core of Blacklist International professional team take down a super team from Indonesia.

During their group stage match against Malaysia, Dominic and goldlaner Howard "Owl" Gonzales took over in a close Game 2 affair during a decisive 25th minute team fight where their superb mechanical outplays came in full display, leading to a 5-2 wipe out to complete a sweep of the Malaysians.

The duo once again flexed their might in the final group stage match against Myanmar, where they showed composure and nerves of steel in piloting a 2-0 takedown in the 22nd minute resulting in a decisive luminous lord take for Sibol.

Entering the playoffs, Dominic did not back off against solid oppositions from Singapore and Indonesia as his brilliance in lane management and map control showed when he successfully executed backline pickoffs to help Blacklist take the initiative in a number of team fights.

Dominic keyed the winning lord fight in the 22nd minute of Game 3 in the gold-medal match when he traveled all the way from the top lane then executed a pinpoint Falling Starmoon on the backline of Calvin "CW" Winata (Beatrix) and Sanz "SANZ" Gilang (Yve), Indonesia's main damage dealers, helping Sibol MLBB to score a 3-0 wipe and reach match point.

After a successful SEA Games campaign, it won't be surprising if Dominic lands a spot into the Blacklist International roster for Season 10. His mother, Ivory Soto, is in full support of her son's future goals.

"Lahat naman ng gusto niya gawin, naka-support lang kami," she said when asked about the possibility of her son entering the MLBB professional scene.

"Happy and proud kami. Siyempre first debut niya sa SEA games. We never imagined na aabot siya dito kaya sobrang proud kami."

("Everything he wants to do, we're here to support him. We're happy and proud. It's his debut in the SEA Games. We never imagined that he would reach all the way here so we are so proud.")

—MGP, GMA News