Indonesia vs Philippines or an all-Pinoy bout? Either way, Pinoy pride is all over the M4 upper bracket.
It's another Indonesia vs Philippines bout in the upper bracket semifinals of the M4 World Championship, but all eyes are on the clash of two Pinoy junglers KarlTzy and Kairi.
Two of the best players in the role will duke it out as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Indonesia Season 10 champion ONIC Esports take on MPL Philippines runner-up ECHO for a chance to face M3 World Champion Blacklist International.
But who to root for?
One fan prefers a champion vs champion bout — ONIC vs Blacklist. Plus, it's exciting to see what Kairi could dish out against his former team.
An ONIC fan, who wasn't too pleased with how the Agents beat ONIC Philippines, cries out, "Give chance to others, BLCK!"
One Indonesian is confident that the MPL ID champ can beat the PH runner-up, "If RRQ can barely beat the blacklist, ONIC should be able to beat ECHO."
But then again, this is only the upper bracket semifinals. This means there could still be a chance of an ONIC vs Blacklist match, but in the Finals — depending on the results of the grueling lower bracket.
Blacklist International though wasn't really choosy.
"I think any of them. If we want to be champions, we should fight every team," Kiel "Oheb" Soriano said.
Agents break the Yu Zhong-Kadita code
Whatever the result of the upper bracket semifinals may be, the defending world champions seem to have shaken off the loss from other Indonesian squads in the IESF World Esports Championship and the ONE Esports MPL Invitational.
After a Game 1 loss due to a pesky Joy and an untouchable Fanny, Blacklist coach Kristoffer "BON CHAN" Ricaplaza made an outright statement by using their exact same lineup — Gloo, Fredrinn, Pharsa, Brody, and Estes — with key bans to sweep Game 2.
With momentum on the side of the Filipinos at 1-1, Blacklist co-owner Alodia Gosiengfiao made a bold prediction . . . but it wasn't what people expected.
"Hopefully 2-2, and may the best group win," she told host Mara Aquino.
That's exactly what happened.
The thrilling Game 5, which lasted for 24 minutes, saw RRQ Hoshi snatching the Lord from under Blacklist's nose.
But a cunning strategy to starve RRQ's Ling of buffs along with consistent split plays got the Agents march straight to the undermanned opponent's base for the victory.
The Yu Zhong and Kadita combo, which gave Blacklist so much grief in the IESF, was finally beaten.
Jonmar "OhMyV33NUS" was matter-of-fact about their key to victory.
"Actually we were shook that they didn't ban Estes throughout the game. I think it was one of the reasons that they lost it," the captain said.
Whatever the result of the next matches may be, Pinoy fans will be in for a good match. Alodia Gosiengfiao said it best in defense of her Game 5 manifestation.
And why bother with trash talking, when players from opposing squads have nothing but good vibes?
Take it from ECHO's Tristan "YAWI" Cabrera, who also switched jerseys with ONIC's Nicky "Kiboy" Fernando.