Sweep of Blacklist International in M4 Grand Finals not what Echo expected, shares Bennyqt

JAKARTA — When Echo released its 'Super Team' for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 9, a lot was expected from the likes of M2 World Championship MVP Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno, Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera, and the rest of the Orcas. 

But they weren't able to live up to their tag at the time, falling to Omega Esports in the opener of the playoff stage to bow out of the tourney.

They bounced back in a big way the next season, ending the regular season at the second spot to earn a spot in the upper bracket semifinals and eventually punched a ticket to the grand finals. 

Still, their effort wasn't enough as Blacklist eked out a 4-2 victory to claim the MPL PH Season 10 crown. Despite the loss, Echo still qualified for the M4 World Championship, where they met Blacklist once again in the upper bracket finals. 

The Codebreakers again emerged victorious as Echo dropped to the lower bracket, which they eventually ruled following a 3-1 triumph of the 'King of Kings' RRQ Hoshi of the host team and set up an all-Filipino grand finals showdown with Blacklist. 

As the saying goes, 'third time's the charm', and Echo didn't let this opportunity slide as the Orcas dethroned Blacklist in convincing fashion. But a 4-0 sweep victory was not what Echo expected from a much-awaited rematch with Blacklist.

"Hindi. Never ko talaga naisip. Nasa isip ko talaga na baka mag-Game 7 pa pero nung na-2-0 na namin and ongoing na 'yung Game Three, napagusapan namin na 'pag na-3-0 natin 'to, sweep na," said Benedict "Bennyqt" Gonzales, who was hailed the Finals MVP.

("No. The thought never came to mind. In my head, I thought it would go to Game 7 but when we went up 2-0 and Game Three was ongoing, we said if we go 3-0, let's go for the sweep.")

Bennyqt, whose familiar backdoor play in Game Two sent Echo to a 2-0 lead, said nothing wrong went for Blacklist as it was just Echo who had a better game play in the series. 

"Sa tingin ko mas one step ahead lang kami sa kanila ngayon dahil malaking bagay na rin na nakalaban namin sila sa upper bracket. Kasi nung time na 'yun, every time na mananalo kami ng Game One, kadalasan 'pag Game Two wala kaming binabagong draft," Bennyqt added. 

"So kanina, every time na manalo kami, kumbaga iniisip namin na kung kami ;yung Blacklist, ano 'yung gagawin namin."

(I think we were just one step ahead of them this time. It was big that we were able to play them in the upper bracket. At the time, every time we would win Game One, we wouldn't change anything in the draft for Game Two... But earlier, every time we would win, we were think about what we'd do if we were Blacklist.")

—JMB, GMA Integrated News