ESPORTS

PH vs PH again in M4 finals? Blacklist coach Bon Chan weighs in on the possibility

JAKARTA — In the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M3 World Championship in December 2021, Blacklist International and Onic Philippines arranged a thrilling all-Filipino title showdown, assuring the country of back-to-back world titles even before their battle began. 

Blacklist eventually took home the crown after sweeping Onic in four games and delivering the Philippines' second straight world title. 

And in the ongoing M4 tournament, Blacklist head coach Kristoffer "Bon Chan" Ricaplaza is hoping for something similar to happen again with the Codebreakers and compatriot Echo remaining in contention to meet in the championship round.

"Sana gano'n ulit 'yung kabagksakan," Bon Chan said on Sunday.

"For example nung M3 na natalo rin kami sa BTK, this time we lost to Falcon and sana doon ulit magtapos na same rematch as MPL Season 10 and hopefully ma-defend ulit namin 'yung title."

("Hopefully, that's how it ends up... For example, in the M3, we lost to BTK, this time we lost to Falcon, and hopefully this one ends in the same rematch as MPL Season 10 and hopefully, we are able to defend the title again.")

Bon Chan's dream of an all-Filipino match is very much alive as of now. 

This as Blacklist and Echo, the finalists in MPL PH S10, are two of the four teams set to play in the upper bracket semifinals with the former facing RRQ Hoshi of host Indonesia while Echo is pitted against another Indonesia powerhouse in Onic Esports. 

Even if one or both of them lose, they will still have the chance to make it to the finals but they will have a longer journey as they will battle it out in the lower bracket. 

Should Echo and Blacklist win their respective semis series, they will face each other earlier than expected as they will meet in the upper bracket finals. 

"Compared nung sa M3, which is nalaglag agad kami sa lower bracket and palagay ko hindi naman siya totally disadvantage dahil doon sa pagkalaglag namin sa lower bracket nung M3 ay marami kaming natutunan. 'Yun nga lang, ayun 'yung mahabang way para makaabot sa finals and makuha 'yung title," Bon Chan added. 

("Compared to the M3, where we dropped to the lower bracket right away, I don't think it totally became a disadvantage because we learned a lot from the lower bracket. But of course, that's the long way to make the finals and win the title.")

"But this time since marami na kaming baong experience, siguro this time mas maganda naman kung doon kami sa mas madaling way compared na nasa lower bracket. Happy naman kami na nandito pa rin kami sa magandang position."

("But this time we're already bringing in a lot of experience, so it would be better if we can go the easy route compared to the lower bracket. We're happy we're still in good position.")

—JMB, GMA Integrated News