Team Liquid Echo a solid force vs. Falcons AP.Bren, punches MSC return ticket

Team Liquid Echo overcame a Game 1 flounder and flipped the switch to stun Falcons AP.Bren, 3-2, in their upper bracket finals clash in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 13 playoffs on Friday at SM Southmall.

Echo did not just punch a ticket to the MPL Grand Finals slated this Sunday, but also one of the country's two berths at the prestigious Mid-Season Cup (MSC) in July in Saudi Arabia.

Dropping the opening game did not take the fight out of Echo as the M4 titlist imposed its will in Game 2, starting with the backdoor attempt of gold laner Benedict "Bennyqt" Gonzales (Roger) but he was unable to complete his signature play. 

He then made up for it by unleashing a maniac in the 20th minute mark en route to a total wipeout as they forced a series equalizer. 

Karl Gabriel "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno had a surprise pick during the Game 3 draft after going for X.Borg in the jungle position. His lord kill in the 17th minute and a double kill during the final clash at Bren's base allowed Echo to take the match point, 2-1. 

But Bren displayed its championship poise in Game 4 with veteran midlaner Angelo "Pheww" Arcangel wreaking havoc after a spotless 3/0/6 line with his Pharsa as they dragged Echo to a decider. 

Echo, though, left it all out in Game 5 with Bennyqt (Karrie) hammering out a double kill to set the stage for a final push in the 20th minute to outlast the defending world and MPL champions. 

The loss sent Bren to the lower bracket finals, where they await the winner of the match between Blacklist International and RSG Philippines, for another shot at making the Grand Finals and MSC. 

Only the two finalists will represent the Philippines in the MSC, where the country boasts three titles since the competition started in 2017. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News