Blacklist International continued their meteoric rise, relying on the teamwork of Lord JM, MP the King, and Hadji to score a 3-0 sweep over Smart Omega in the opening round of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 14 (MPL S14) playoffs on Wednesday.
In their best-of-five play-in series at Green Sun Hotel, Makati, Blacklist’s exp laner Jhon Mart “Lord JM” Sebastian and jungler Michael “MP the King” Endino traded turns making pivotal plays. This led Blacklist to victories with scores of 14-7, 19-11, and 12-11, eliminating the third-seeded OMG side in convincing fashion.
Blacklist, coached by the seasoned Kristoffer “Bon Chan” Ricaplaza, entered the playoffs as the final qualifier. However, it took them just 10 minutes and 30 seconds to dispatch OMG in Game 1.
“We came here well-prepared, but in Game 3, we had a lineup planned that didn’t come to fruition,” said Bon Chan.
Lord JM, who was named MVP of Game 1, showcased his versatility with his Benedetta fighter, contributing eight assists. His crucial plays sparked a 10-kill streak that allowed Blacklist to come back from a 4-7 deficit starting at the 7:47 mark. MP the King also excelled with his Alpha fighter, ending Game 1 with five kills, three deaths, and 16 assists.
In Game 2, midlaner Salic “Hadji” Imam’s exceptional play on the female mage Xhuxin led the charge. Hadji notched seven kills, including two decisive takedowns of Andrew “Andoryuuu” Flora’s hero, propelling Blacklist to a 19-11 victory in a 19-minute, 28-second battle.
Riding the momentum from the first two games, Blacklist closed out Game 3 with a narrow 12-11 win in 21:41. A trio of kills at the match’s end secured the sweep. Hadji’s seven assists were key to Blacklist’s performance, and his coordination with Lord JM’s tank hero Hylos and Oheb’s assassin Nolan resulted in four kills apiece.
Looking ahead, Bon Chan hinted at new strategies for the next round, stating, “This means we have more surprises up our sleeve for the next round. The boys were disciplined in our preparation.”
With the win, Blacklist advances to the upper bracket semifinals, where they will face the second-seeded Falcons AP.Bren in another best-of-five showdown.
