ECHO has carried its world championship momentum into the local arena as it remains unbeaten in the ongoing Mobile Legends Professional League Philippines Season 11.
After sweeping three-time champion Blacklist International in its opening game of the season, ECHO wreaked havoc by beating heavyweights Bren Esports, 2-0, and ONIC PH, 2-1.
It was such an impressive feat as ONIC PH was also the first team to beat ECHO since its dominant run in the M4 World Championship last January in which it won all of its games in a Moonton-arranged tourney since its lower bracket match against Indonesian powerhouse RRQ Hoshi.
ECHO team captain Tristan “YAWI” Cabrera said everything went well during their match against ONIC PH except for a small mistake in Game 2.
“We made a mistake in our decision-making in the turtle which caused us to lose (Game 2). That was just it,” YAWI said, referring to their game against ONIC PH.
Meanwhile, fan-favorite Blacklist has started to pick up the pace following a slow start.
Shortly after bowing to ECHO, Blacklist International went on to beat TNC Pro Team and Omega Esports via sweep.
Spearheaded by its dynamic duo of Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario, Blacklist is laying this season without key members in head coach Kristoffer Ed “BON CHAN” Ricaplaza and Salid “Hadji” Imam, who both opted to take a break.
M3 Most Valuable Player Kiel Calvin “OHEB” Soriano, on the other hand, has moved down to tier-two league Mobile Legends Development League to guide the young talents of Blacklist Academy.
While Blacklist International had seemingly lost the aura of invincibility it once had, it is still showing flashes of brilliance with OhMyV33nus leading the pack and holding the all-time leader in assist in MPL PH history with 2266.
