It's another Philippines vs Philippines clash in the world stage. But before that, let's see what's keeping KarlTzy occupied.
ECHO's Karl Gabriel "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno seems to be in a Pokemon master mindset at the sidelines of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M4 World Championship.
Nepomuceno is picking up and swapping jerseys with opposing teams in the knockout stage left and right. It started with fellow Pinoy jungler, Kairi "Kairi" Rayosdelsol, of ONIC Esports.
Kairi was masterful with Hayabusa and Joy, but was overwhelmed by ECHO in five games — forcing them down to the lower bracket quarterfinals.
Hey, might as well pick up the jersey of Albert "Alberttt" Iskandar from Indonesia's RRQ Hoshi.
Plus those of Kenneth "Kenn" Hein from Myanmar's Falcon Esports.
In case you didn't notice — those are all junglers. And all jerseys from squads currently in the lower bracket.
Is this a sign of things to come?
After all, the latest addition to his collection is the jersey from fellow Pinoy and Fredrinn user Danerie James "Wise" Del Rosario of Blacklist International. ECHO and Blacklist are going against each other in the upper bracket finals this Friday. It will be a rematch of the MPL Philippines Season 10 Grand Finals.
But the runner-ups of the Philippine competition aren't too pressured.
"Sigurado na pong may isang PH sa finals saka may rematch din po. Sana po makabawi kami, lakas ng Blacklist kasi," Tristan "YAWI" Cabrera said after their victory against ONIC. "PH lang malakas!"
These squads know each other all too well, with ECHO getting the advantage in MPL Season 9 but Blacklist outplaying them in Season 10.
But the M4 world title will not be decided in the upper bracket finale. The winner of the match will do advance to the Grand Finals, but the losing team will need to win one more match to secure an all-Filipino finale.
It was done in M3, where Blacklist defeated ONIC PH to win the title.
Can ECHO and BLCK replicate that here in M4?
Wise and KarlTzy wish that too.