Sibol Men sweep Malaysia for 4th straight Mobile Legends: Bang Bang SEA Games gold

Kiel “Oheb” Soriano capped his first SEA Games stint in golden fashion, leading Sibol Men to a 4-0 win over Malaysia in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang men's finals on Wednesday in Thailand.

The veteran gold laner sizzled to help the Philippines extend its reign in the regional biennial meet as the country captured its fourth straight gold medal since ML:BB's made its SEA Games debut in 2019.

Sibol, bannered by reigning MPL and MCS champion Team Liquid, made a statement early by denying Malaysia any objectives in a Game 1 clash that lasted just 12 minutes and 54 seconds.

Oheb spearheaded the onslaught with nine kills and nine assists on his signature pick Granger, driving Sibol’s dominant 11k gold lead to draw first blood.

Malaysia stuck with the same draft in Game 2, but it barely made a difference as Sibol continued to dominate with Oheb securing a Maniac before jungler Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno (Lancelot) completed the wipeout off a pick-off on Haq's Hayabusa as they cruised to a 2-0 start.

But the real challenge for the Filipinos came in Game 3.

Malaysia made a lineup change after bringing in Danish for Haq, who wreaked havoc early on his Suyou and spearheaded a 6-0 kill run alongside Ealtond’s Esmeralda and Qayyum’s Grock.

At one point, the Malaysians seemed poised to invade Sibol’s base, but the Filipinos held firm with a successful defense. A pivotal Lord steal by KarlTzy on Lancelot at the 16th minute then sparked Sibol’s Game 3 comeback, paving the way for a decisive 3-0 sweep.

From that moment, Sibol held full control. 

KarlTzy claimed an uncontested Lord just shy of the 13th minute, and together with Oheb, eliminated four enemy heroes in the last team clash to cruise to a commanding 4-0 sweep that underscored the Philippines’ SEA Games MLBB supremacy.

The victory gave KarlTzy his second SEA Games gold medal, having previously helped the Philippines claim the inaugural Mobile Legends: Bang Bang crown in 2019 while Oheb grabbed his first-ever gold. 

—JKC, GMA integrated News