The Newfound Strength

Four teams remain standing in the race for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 2 championship. We’ve experienced upsets, one-sided landslides, and overall just great ML:BB action during the first day of the grand finals event, but we’re not quite done yet. The 2nd and final day of the tournament will pit the remaining top PH ML:BB teams in the country against each other to determine which among them will be the next kings of  Filipino Mobile Legends.

BREN Unwavering

Once again, the day of high-stakes ML:BB action was kicked off by the reigning kings of the local ML:BB scene, BREN Esports. The final upper bracket matchup between BREN and Cignal Ultra would determine which team earns the first grand finals slot.

BREN is still BREN, even in the opening game of the day, Cignal was rendered utterly helpless at the hands of a roaring BREN Esports. It’s clear to see that BREN is hungry for their second consecutive grand championship in the MPL PH.

The 2nd game showed more promise from Cignal Ultra, who were able to fight on somewhat even ground with BREN in the opening minutes of their encounter. However, BREN seized control of the match, doubling Cignal’s kill score on the board to force the opening series in to an early end with a immaculate 2-0 victory. BREN Esports advance to the grand finals bracket, awaiting the results of the rest of the teams.

Dispelling the Imbalance

The second match of the day featured the lower bracket semifinals between two of the sleeper teams in the entire league. Both SxC Imbalance and Finesse Solid persevered from the lower rungs of the league ladder, in no small part due to their amazing team fighting and compositions.

The first game kicked off in an unexpected manner with both teams playing cautiously, as if biding their time while measuring their opponents, contrary to the common early game blitz plays famous in the league. The teams soon reach stalemate in a slow game 1, but Finesse Solid soon remind their opponents and everyone watching just how they made it to this stage of the tournament, with amazing team fight calls and executions. Finesse walk away with the first game win to force SxC Imbalance into a corner.

Finesse came back in the second game with renewed strength and focus as they completely shut out SxC Imbalance, extinguishing their hopes of ever making it to the grand finals. Finesse Solid once again come out with a beautifully executed series to earn a spot in the lower bracket finals where Cignal Ultra is waiting for them.

Reversed Cignal

With barely any time to rest, the teams geared up once more to take the stage in the dreaded lower bracket final. Winning here would mean a one-on-one date with BREN Esports in the grand finals of the tournament. Cignal Ultra only fell to the lower bracket in the first series of day 2. Finesse Solid, on the other hand, has been fighting tooth and nail for every right to challenge the top ranking Mobile Legends:Bang Bang team in the country.

The first game was a site to see for all present. It kicked off with a close match with both teams securing pick offs on unsuspecting isolated members on the enemy team. Things took a turn for the worse for Cignal Ultra once Finesse Solid’s Karl on the Kimmy carry pick started to produce amazing results. Cignal Ultra soon found themselves outclassed in damage output and team fight performance, culminating in a chaotic base race that netted a game 1 win for Finesse Solid.

Cignal Ultra were not about to let their chance to have a rematch with BREN Esports slip away from their hands. They take the chance to look in Kimmy in the second game, hoping to replicate the immense success that Finesse Solid enjoyed in the first game. What resulted was Cignal giving Finess Solid a run for their money with better team fighting and shot calling than in their first game. Finesse Solid did their best to hold off the Cignal siege, going so far as to force a high-stakes team fight in the bot lane. Things were looking good for Finesse for moments in the team fight, save for the fact that the Cignal-secured Lord was barreling down the middle lane ready to knock a few chunks out of the Finesse Solid base. The second game closes with Cignal Ultra keeping their dreams alive as they push the series to an even 1-1.

It figures that one of the toughest series in the tournament would come down to the wire. Cignal Ultra looked like a completely different team in the game three decider. Finesse Solid were pummeled into helplessness against a Cignal Ultra that finally found the right pieces to make their strategies work. Cignal had Finesse’s number at every turn of the fight, resulting in a crushing game 3 defeat for the wily lower bracket heroes, Finesse Solid.

Cignal Ultra will return to the stage in a rematch against BREN Esports in the only series that matters, the tournament’s grand finals.

The Ultimate Rematch

BREN and Cignal Ultra meeting up on the MPL stage once more is their first rematch in the MPL playoffs but the teams have history drawing from the first ever MPL PH. BREN and Cignal Ultra have met in a grand finals before, only under different team banners in the inaugural season of the MPL. Now they’ll clash for a second consecutive season in a best-of-five MPL PH grand finals to determine which team deserves the title of the country’s strongest Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team.

The grand finals kicked off in amazing fashion for the challengers, Cignal Ultra. They took control of the game in the early and mid game phases but it turned out that BREN was only biding their time. The devious Kimmy pick rears its ugly head once more as BREN’s carry turns over multiple team fights in the late game to turn the tide in their favor. The first game closes with a 22-17 BREN victory to put the match on an early 1-0.

Cignal Ultra did not fight all the way to the grand finals after losing in the inaugural season just to get swept by BREN. Cignal got their hands on the Kimmy in the second game and looke to turn the disruptive pick into a golden ticket to equalize the series.  Most teams crumble when put into a disadvantage owing to the sheer difficulty of playing from behind a dominant team, but BREN somehow still manage to execute team fights while disregarding such deficits. However, Cignal Ultra earn their position in the grand finals as they prove to all just how they made it to the finals. Cignal Ultra force their way into the series to tie it up 1-1.

It takes the third game in the series for one team to finally put the ban hammer on the Kimmy. The absence of the disruptive factor of the powerful carry pick leaves both teams with more  room to play around with their strategies, and that’s exactly what Cignal Ultra did in the third game. Despite struggling for most of the game and being pushed into their own base with no turrets remaining, Cignal Ultra pull off a miraculous Lord defense and counter siege. BREN were repelled in the last moments of the game and were sent scattered running for the hills. This gave Cignal Ultra the opportunity to claw at every possible advantage they could seize. BREN’s members continued to drop one by one even through respawns, leading to a very convincing 20+ minute game win for Cignal Ultra, pushing the series to 2-1 and into match point.

The bans on the dangerous picks in the tournament continue into the fourth game of the grand finals. The early minutes erupt in chaotic fights on the map as both teams try their earnest to secure any inch of advantage. The game turns dire for BREN Esports as they are brought to the brink of ruin by superb team play from the Cignal Ultra camp. The score stands at 15-7 in favor of Cignal Ultra at 13 minutes of play. Cignal Ultra continue to apply on the pressure and power through minor mistakes that cost them a few teammates. BREN Esports proves unable to hold back the rampaging Cignal Ultra as the challengers force their way into the BREN base. The game collapse accompanied by the howling applause of the thunderous crowd as Ccignal Ultra is crowned the grand champions of the MPL PH Season 2!

Cignal Ultra will walk away with the massive $25,000 grand cash prize as well as the bonus crowdfunded $8,000 prize.  A new day has dawned on the local Mobile Legends: Bang Bang scene along with the crowning of the new kings.

There Can be Only One MPL PH Season 2 Champion

The weeks-long group stage of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 2 led up to this moment in time where eight of the Philippines’ strongest ML:BB teams will clash in a true tournament of legends. The stage is set at the Ayala Malls Circuit Makati Activity Center, and only one team is leaving this weekend as the latest MPL PH Season 2 grand champions.

The Strength of BREN

The first day of the MPL PH Season 2 grand finals kicked off without pulling any punches by pitting the two arguably strongest teams in the country against each other in the opening series of the event. BREN Esports and Execration have a long history that has spanned from the league’s inaugural season and has persisted even through the rebranding of both teams.

This matchup could very well be the simulation of the grand finals series as its not unlikely to believe that there’s a strong chance these two teams will meet each other again regardless of the first upper bracket match.

Having said that, both competitors came into the series with guns blazing. Execration came out swinging wildly as they secured the advantage early on in game one, but BREN’s particular brand of unparalleled team fight prowess shone more in the latter half of the match, securing the victory from the defending champions.

Execration quickly bounced back in the second game of the series. Not being a team to quit, XCTN put the pressure on BREN behind their rampaging carries. The second game was a complete shutout, doing a complete disservice of the true potential of BREN Esports. Execration’s efforts in the second game have kept their upper bracket hopes alive, for now.

BREN returned in the third and final game ready to show their opponents and all viewers just why they’re the team to beat in this country. The reigning champions showed off their superb team fighting that capitalized on their composition, helping them demolish Execration to close out the series with a narrow 2-1 victory.

Sending Cignals Your Way

The second match of the day featured the returning banner of season 1’s grand champions, Aether Main, going up against one of the league’s best new teams, Cignal Ultra. The games kick off full off action but the first game unfortunately falls into a stalemate that lasts close to 30 minutes. Each team’s attempt to break the equilibrium only serve to cede control of the game to their opponent with each chaotic team fight. Cignal Ultra come out on top, however, after powering their way through the Aether base.

The second game follows in a different pattern as the first game as Cignal Ultra works on optimizing their game plans against their opponents. The second game is more one-sided than their opener, leading to a dominant 2-0 clean out by Cignal Ultra.

With Finesse and Grace

The third match of the day featured a matchup between ArkAngel Ownage and Finesse Solid. The series was fraught with high paced ML:BB action befitting of the biggest national Mobile Legends: Bang Bang league in the Philippines.

Finesse Solid opened up the series with a fantastic game to quickly put their match at a 1-0 advantage. The second game was more sloppy for both competitors as both teams failed to break equilibrium in a tight match where one mistake could prove to be fatal for either side. ArkAngel Ownage came out on top after almost forcing their way through to the enemy base, equalizing the series at a clean 1-1.

ArkAngel Ownage may have delayed the end of the series by pushing a decider but Finesse were not about to leave things to fate as they flex some series ML:BB skills. FNs find themselves knocking on the ArkAngel Ownage base not 10 minutes into the game, heralding a one-sided game to decide the match. Finesse Solid come out with a very convincing 2-1 victory to close out their series.

No Rest for the Wicked

ArkAngel Ownage’s sister team, ArkAngel Wicked Minds, takes the stage in the next series of the day as they go up against SxC Imbalance. ArkAngel.WM learns from their sister team as they pull out an amazing first game to secure the advantage in the series. SxC is completely demolished in game 1 due to Wicked Minds’ amazing team fighting, pushing the series in a swift 1-0 standing.

SxC looked to tilt the match in their favor as they came out roaring in the second game. They secured an early game advantage and used it to snowball their opponent into matchpoint. The second game capped off with a landslide 19-5 score in favor of SxC Imbalance at only 13 minutes of play.

The third game of their series was nothing short of a thing of beauty. SxC rolled out a Grock Akai double tank initiation combo composition that served as the crux of their strategy for the deciding game. ArkAngel Wicked Minds was completely outplayed in the all-important elimination game, leading to a convincing game reverse sweep win for SxC Imbalance.

Aether Main Returns

Aether Main took to the stage once more in an elimination lower bracket match against a rampaging Finesse Solid, a team that just put on a fantastic show for all MPL fans. Finesse Solid went to work quickly in the series pummeling Aether Main into a daunting 1-15 deficit at only 10 minutes into the first game of their series. The situation looked dire for the Aether Main side for the entirety of the landslide game.  Aether could only watch in horror as they fell to Finesse Solid in a one-sided affair to open up their elimination series.

The second game of the series went it the same way of the first game. Finesse Solid are proving that they deserve a spot in the playoffs as they make quick work of Aether Main for a second consecutive game. Finesse Solid keep their MPL PH Season 2 dreams alive with a beautiful 2-0 win over Aether Main.

Finding Balance in Imbalance

The first day of the MPL PH Season 2 Grand Finals won’t wrap up with merely 5  matchups, the last matchup of the day featured a best-of-three lower bracket elimination match between Execration and SxC Imbalance. There’s only remaining slot in the tournament’s top 4 squads.

Execration found themselves in this matchup after losing their series against BREN Esports in the opening series of day 1. The final match of the grand finals’ first day proved to be one of the most exciting matchups so far. Both Execration and SxC Imbalance traded off kills in an amazing back-and-forth game. It all came to a head when SxC turned the tide of the game with a decisive team fight win right at the heart of the Execration base, forcing the series into a 1-0 lead for SxC Imbalance.

The second game of the series was more of an imbalanced affair. Execration were ultimately unable to curb the rampaging SxC Imbalance as they fall to a 0-2 deficit. The entire series hinged on one final team fight in the Execration base where SxC clinched a five-for-one exchange that wiped out Execration and opened up their base for a demolition crew. The league’s second ranked team has been officially eliminated. SxC Imbalance will move on in the playoffs final four!

Day 1 concludes with only four teams remaining in the running for the MPL PH Season 2 championship. The action resumes tomorrow where one team will be crowned at the top of Filipino Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

New MPL PH Kings will be Crowned

The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League-Philippines Season 2, is the second iteration of the first ever professional Mobile Legends: Bang Bang league in the Philippines. A total of ten teams made it to the group stage through the qualifiers and direct invites. They were tested across the six-week group stage to determine which teams had the right to challenge for the MPL PH Season 2 championship title. Eight teams have successfully qualified for the live grand finals event by proving their ML: BB skills in battle.

The top eight teams in the league will meet on January 12-13, 2019 in the all-important live grand finals event at the Ayala Malls Circuit Makati. They won’t only be fighting over the glory of claiming the championship title, the massive USD 100,000 cash prize pool along with the extra crowdfunded MPL Carnival Bonus prize pool will be up for grabs during the exciting pro ML: BB weekend.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

• Grand Finals: January 12-13, 2019 – Ayala Malls Circuit Makati

PRIZE POOL

• Total: USD 100,000 + Crowdfunded MPL Carnival Bonus
• Champion: USD 25,000 + USD 8,000
• 2^nd Place: USD 12,000 + USD 4,000
• 3^rd Place: USD 5,000 + USD 2,000
• 4^th Place: USD 3,000 + USD 1,000
• 5^th Place: USD 1,500 + USD 600
• 6^th Place: USD 1,500 + USD 600
• 7^th Place: USD 1,000 + USD 400
• 8^th Place: USD 1,000 + USD 400

Each of the eight teams are already guaranteed a portion of the massive prize pool but the grand champions will be taking home the combined USD 33,000 grand cash prize. The live event will not only feature the best and most promising Mobile Legends: Bang Bang professionals in the country, the best on-air talents will be live on the scene to provide analysis and play-by-play commentary.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

• BREN Esports
• Cignal Ultra
• Aether Main
• Execration
• ArkAngel Ownage
• SxC IMBA
• ArkAngel WickedMinds
• Finesse Solid

The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 2 grand finals will take place on January 12-13, 2019 live from the Ayala Malls Circuit Makati and everyone is invited to join in the ML: BB weekend where a new MPL PH championship will be crowned. The search for the next legendary ML: BB players is still ongoing. Which one of the eight teams will rise to the challenge and become the new top ML: BB team in the Philippines.

Heading into the Final Round

We’re officially a few weeks away from the Grand Finals for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 2, and with the tournament taking a short break over the holidays we have a brief respite to take a look at the tournament as a whole. The second season of the biggest National ML:BB featured the return of several top teams that reigned gloriously in the tournament’s first season. The first season flaunted teams battling it out for the top spot, with the first iteration of Aether Main almost running away with the entire competition. This current season gave the newer teams and players targets to take down, the top teams from the tournament’s first season and arguably the most experienced players in the Philippines today.

Taking down any one of the big three teams that have all returned to the MPL PH stage, with each of them fighting currently fighting under a new banner compared to their allegiance in the first season, would have big implications for any team that managed to pull off the feat. One key example from the group stage was Finesse Solid‘s masterful team play that dealt a crushing blow to the near-immortal BREN Esports early on the regular season. Finesse Solid is a new team gracing the MPL PH pantheon, and they were definitely eager to prove their skills when it mattered most. They did so by handing the defending champions, BREN, their first ever series loss in the series. This series win for an underdog shattered all preconceptions of a possible one-sided league, with teams like BREN Esports taking hold of the reins and running away with the entire competition. Finesse Solid had their moment in the limelight after their commanding 2-1 victory over the reigning MPL PH champions and the current best Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team in the Philippines.

The remaining top teams in the league also experienced their fair share of upsets as the new challengers to the scene set out to make a name for themselves. Even the struggling HappyFeet managed to take a series win over Cignal Ultra before making their tournament exit along with WRS Alliance.  Not all group stage teams were meant to make it out of the group stage unscathed, but their failure to qualify for the Playoffs is not indicative of their impact on the tournament as a whole.

The stakes have been raised in the second season of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines. The occasional stumbles of the once-perceived unbeatable ML:BB teams in the country is proof that the level of competition in the tournament has been elevated to the next level. There is absolutely no telling which team will make it to the end of MPL PH Season 2. BREN Esports, Cignal Ultra, and Execration, may all be some of the toughest Mobile Legends: Bang Bang teams in the country, but the newer teams in the league are no slouches either. Teams like Finesse Solid, SxC Imba, and the new Aether Main lineup, can all potentially shake up the tournament in its final stage. The Grand Finals will take place in Makati in January 2019, and I for one am excited to watch more top-level Mobile Legends: Bang Bang action.

Cheers to the Valiant Group Stage Warriors

It’s been a long six weeks of group stage action for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 2, but we finally have our final eight combatants ready to take the next stage by storm. All of the ten combatants in the group stage fought valiantly across the six group stage rounds as they fought for one of the eight limited slots for the coveted playoffs stage and the right to fight for the largest share of the tournament’s massive prize pool. We’ve all seen them fight their hearts out on the one mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) they love, but sadly, there can only be eight finalists in the LAN event set to take place early in 2019. It won’t be a pleasant Christmas season for the eliminated teams who will have to wait for their next chance in the next ML:BB tournaments, but the eight finalists can kick off their celebrations with the security of their spots in the playoffs firmly intact.

BREN Esports locked in their firm foothold on the first spot of the tournament’s group stage ladder and besides dropping two series across the entire stage, they have never faltered from standing atop the rest of the competition. Cignal Ultra came close to usurping the first seed spot from BREN as they both tacked on a 7-2 group stage standing, but BREN’s record won out by a mere 2 points, catapulting them to an assured first seed spot heading into the playoffs.  BREN and Cignal were among the teams expected to finish the group stage at the top of the pack, and these two have definitely lived up to the expectations set upon them especially given their prior experience competing in the MPL.

Aether Main rose up in the ranks towards the end of the group stage landing them firmly in third place. They managed to drop three of their matches across the group stage but they lived up to the honor of the new team name they carry as they fought back their way to a third place finish. ArkAngel Ownage and Execration found themselves tied for the fourth place position with 16 points each. Execration started out the group stage in contention for the first place position alongside BREN Esports, but managed to drop a few key games along the way that landed them smack dab in the middle of the heap. ArkAngel Own had a rocky group stage but found success beyond their sister team as they tied with one of the tournament favorites.

Finesse Solid, Arkangel Wicked Minds, and SxC IMBA round out the final three competitors in the playoffs stage barely managing to avoid elimination from the tournament. WRS Alliance and HappyFeet  will both be unfortunately making their formal exit from the tournament as they failed to make it out of the 9th and 10th places, extinguishing their chances and hopes of taking home the championship title of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 2.

Ten teams entered the MPL PH Season 2, and now only eight teams remain in the running for the championship title and the massive cash prize. The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang action will simmer down during the holidays, but each team will be preparing for their big moment in January 2019 when they will be summoned once more to the MPL stage where they can prove that they are the best ML:BB teams in front of a live audience. The group stage may have concluded, but the MPL PH Season 2 fight is far from over, not until an undisputed champion is crowned and all battles are settled.

Beware the unpredictable underdogs

We’re rounding out the fifth week of the regular season in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 2. The teams are in a mad dash to earn every advantage they can take with the hopes being among the squads in the ultimate finals event in January 2019. There’s only one week remaining for the teams to leave their lasting mark on the group stage to show that they deserve to be in the finals event.

Leading the pack are some familiar squads that have done well to distinguish themselves from the competition. BREN Esports, SXC IMBA, and Execration remained locked in a heated battle for the top spot with Cignal Ultra slowly inching their way from the middle rungs of the ladder. The tournament is not without it’s low points given that some teams have performed less than admirably in the weeks-long group stage that have has come to pass. There’s little chance for bottom teams to make it to the finals as each defeat gets them closer to elimination. White Rascals Alliance, Happy Feet, and ArkAngel Wicked Minds occupy the opposite end of the spectrum from the trinity of ML:BB kings at the top of the MPL PH Season 2 ladder.

The bottom teams are not fighting for top spots, their sights are merely locked on their very survival. One slip up could mean the difference between the dreaded off-season, or the chance to upset the higher powers and take home the second MPL PH championship crown.  Every win matters and time is running for all of the teams involved in the biggest national Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament.

HappyFeet faced off against a seemingly insurmountable hurdle in the second day of the group stage’s fifth week. They were tasked with taking on Cignal Ultra, one of the toughest teams in the tournament and the country, as they fight for their very survival in the tournament. HF stood at a dismal 1-5 standing, with only one win to their name earning them their 9th place position. The 8th seeded Arkangel.WM was nearby in points but it would take a lot of effort from the obviously struggling HF to even earn the chance at a slot in the playoffs.

It was literally do-or-die for HappyFeet as they went into their match against the fourth seeded Cignal Ultra. Cignal was comfortably sitting with a 5-1 standing, a mere three points away from the top of the ladder. It would be no exaggeration to say that HappyFeet had their work cut out for them especially given their dismal performance in the group stage so far.

Not many were expecting HappyFeet to show up and show a little more fight in their game, but they delivered in a big way. In a manner similar to Finesse Solid‘s momentous upset victory over BREN Esports early in the tournament, HappyFeet seemingly came out of nowhere with a swift 1-2 punch that earned them a clean 2-0 victory over Cignal Ultra. HappyFeet pulled off quick early game skirmishes that weathered down the fourth seeded Cignal Ultra. It was over in almost a blink of an eye. Cignal attempted their best defense against the rampaging HappyFeet but the penguins had already decided the series with their terrific macro calls and team fight coordination.

HappyFeet’s amazing victory has reignited their hopes of making it to the playoffs stage at the expense of a bruised and battered Cignal Ultra. There’s still one week left in the group stage, leaving HappyFeet plenty of ample time to make their way to the playoffs stage. We may be nearing the end of the group stage, but absolutely no team can take it easy as complacency can be their one-way ticket to watching the playoffs from the audience bleachers. The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 2 continues next week with the exciting conclusion of the group stage!

AEther Main’s New Season Redemption Arc

The much-awaited continuation of the second season Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines group stage kicked off this past weekend with all the best local ML:BB teams returning for more action. We are well into halfway through the regular season and with each week we draw closer to the grand live LAN event in January 2019. The teams are still in a mad dash towards the top spots in the league, in the hopes of becoming one of the lucky few who will actually make it to the playoffs stage.

The line is gradually becoming more defined as the weeks draw on, there are already a few contenders who seemingly drop deeper into insurmountable deficits, with their playoffs prospects flickering in the distance. Yet, despite the fierce competition of the MPL PH Season 2 group stage, there are some teams that fight with every fiber of their being to overcome any and all hurdles and mistakes they have made in the first half of the tournament, with their eyes firmly on the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines championship title. Besides the three-way battle for top place between Execration, BREN Esports, and Cignal Ultra, the rest of the competitors are locked in a heated struggle for the next five playoffs qualifier spots. One such team that made leaps and bounds in week 4 of the MPL PH group stage, the renewed AEther Main lineup.

AEther Main finished at a dismal 7th place mid-way through the group stage after securing a 2-2 standing after three weeks of play. They entered the fourth week of the tournament set to take on both Arkangel Ownage and Arkangel Wicked Minds. AE Main had their work cut out for them as both Arkangel squads pose different levels of challenges, with both sister teams in contention for a spot in the playoffs.

Aether Main inherited their team banner after the original AEther Main was picked up by a different organization in the league. Now they serve on the new official AE Main lineup with a mountain of pressure on their soldiers. Aether Main was a nearly immortal Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team in the first season of the MPL PH. They rampaged all the way through the playoffs before falling short of the championship win. Now the onus on the new Aether Main to live up to the expectations from their amazing season 1 performance. It’s an immense honor to carry on the legacy of one of the best teams in the inaugural season of the MPL PH tournament, but the pressure to perform is immense.

AE Main finally found their own momentum as they made quick work of the 5th ranked Arkangel Ownage on the first day of week 4. They also repeated their successful match against Arkangel OWN’s sister team, Arkangel Wicked Minds, in the second day of the group stage. AEther Main walked away with a pristine 4-0 record in the group stage, catapulting them to a safer position in the ladder. AEther Main now find themselves tied for fourth place with SxC IMBA. So long as they can keep their momentum up in the final two weeks of the group stage, AEther Main can make it back to the playoffs stage for another shot at the championship title.

Taking the Country’s Best ML:BB Team to the Wire

Finesse Solid, one of the competing teams in the second season of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines, has been putting up an impressive showing in the tournament in the current three week-run of the group stage. Each team in the league is still hard pressed to tack on notable accolades to distinguish themselves from the pack along with claim each win they can possibly get to increase their chances of making it to the coveted Playoffs stage. There will no abundance of chances for the teams to make their esports dreams come true, only the absolute best squads will earn the right to fight against the best Mobile Legends: Bang Bang teams in front of a live crowd at the Grand Finals event in January. Finesse Solid is one such team that has succeeded in starting a conversation about them, no one will be overlooking FNs after their impressive feat in the second day of the Group Stage’s third week.

Finesse Solid was slated to face off against the league leaders, BREN Esports in their final series for Week #3. Going up against the tournament favorites would no doubt be the cause of anxiety as BREN continued to dominate each matchup in their path towards the Playoffs. FNs however surprised all when they came out strong in the series to earn an early 1-0 series lead against BREN.

Each game win in a short best-of-three series is crucial, and Finesse Solid just dealt a strong opening blow against arguably the toughest squad in the entire competition. BREN was not about to let the rampaging Finesse get away with scoring a clean 2-0 win over them as they bounced back in the second game of the series to force the entire matchup into a crucial game three decider.

Finesse Solid fielded in a strong initiate composition built around a Karrie Marksman Carry for their player, Karl. FNs compensated for falling early in gold in the third game by focusing on their map-wide skirmishes that would earn them advantages bit by bit. One crucial team fight at only the 2:30 mark in the game shifted the game’s favor entirely towards Finesse. Staying true to their namesake, Finesse pulled off an elegant counter engage to contest a Turtle take early in the game, turning a three-man knockup into a 4 for nothing exchange. This early advantage was utilized by FNs to steamroll their way towards the end of the game.

Finesse continued their masterful use of their initiate composition as they systematically picked off one BREN Esports player after another. By the ten minute mark, Finesse Solid was sitting comfortably on a daunting 12-4 kill lead over the struggle BREN Esports. It was only a matter of time before Finesse Solid dealt the final blow against the once immortal BREN. BREN Esports managed to hold the fort for a while, zoning out FNs’ siege attempts, but it was ultimately fruitless as Finesse Solid regrouped to deal the final blow to their enemy’s base. Finesse Solid walk away with a commanding 21-5 victory in the third game, and more importantly, a 2-1 victory over BREN Esports. Keep an eye out for Finesse Solid as the Group Stage of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 2 rages on!

Estes Explodes onto the Map!

The second week of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines tournament wrapped up yesterday with another weekend full of exciting matches between the country’s strongest teams. The meta in any Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) is always expected to change and evolve across a game’s history. Players and characters change throughout the various patches that a game will receive and it keeps the competitors light on their feet, remaining vigilant of the new strategies and picks that they must learn to remain in the upper echelons of the competitive scene.

The meta may shift consistently, but massive changes are few and far in between. Groundbreaking meta changes may take place across years when the developers roll out full scale patches instead of minor tweaks to seemingly minimal mechanics and statistics. Unfortunately, the meta in a MOBA can sometimes remain stagnant for a long time, falling into a stale pit of the same rotations of characters. Most teams are unwilling to step a toe out of line from current metas making the games potential great but ultimately boring because of the same motley crew of heroes taking the map in almost every single game.

That’s why pocket picks and surprise strategies are so interesting in games that have over a hundred heroes to pick and choose from. What use is having so many colorful characters populating your game only to get boxed in two a few ten or twenty characters to see again and again. Games that feature an unexpected pick from a player bold enough to believe in his own skill with a hero that he’s willing to bet it all on are truly sights to behold. It takes confidence and willingness to plunge into a possible game-losing pick and it takes skill to manage the proper execution to make such picks work. Bren Esports graced the MPL PH Season 2 stage with such a pick, and it paid off handsomely.

The defending MPL PH champions, BREN Esports, looks to distinguish themselves further as the tournament’s frontrunners as they explode onto the scene with a strong offensive on the first day of the league’s second week. BREN was up against the White Rascals Alliance on the first day of week 2 and the defending champions were looking to extend their dominant streak in the tournament.

BREN made quick work of the first game in their series, swiftly forcing WRS Alliance into a corner. BREN was expected to put on a great show for their fans and the supporters of the MPL PH Season 2, but what they pulled off in the second game surprised all. BREN actually locked in an Estes pick in their second game for their player, Pein. BREN Pein is no stranger to defaulting to initiate and utility picks to help his team move forward. He was rocking the Akai pick in the first game and came out with a pretty impressive 3/1/14 KDA contributing to his impressive 68% kill participation. The Akai game was already an amazing performance but that doesn’t compare to his second game outing.

BREN Pein’s Estes game netted him a pristine 5/0/12 KDA, earning him the in-game MVP award far beyond his own teammates.  Pein worked tirelessly across the map, offering constant ganks and team fight support to push his team across the WRS Alliance threshold. When all was said and done, BREN Esports waltzed away with a 2-0 victory to kick off their second week stint in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines tournament.

We’re hoping that more teams and players will take risks with characters that they know well and are confident enough to take them into heated battle. Some times it’s not about which meta is greater, it just might be about which player is more confident in their personal skill with their favorite character. You don’t become legendary by following in the footsteps of others.

Rejoice, Filipino Fans of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang!

The stage is set once again for the best PH Mobile Legends: Bang Bang teams to test their might against one another as the regular season of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 2 kicked off this past weekend. The second season opening weekend feature the return of some familiar IGN’s as well as the debut performances from some up-and-coming local ML:BB teams. We even have a few teams coming back to the league with a refreshed new image and banner to fight under.

As always, matches in the MPL PH tournament are fast and intense with players, casters, and fans alike not left with much room to breathe. Each team’s primary concern for the opening weekend is to distinguish themselves among the rest of the competition. We may have a long season ahead of us but every victory holds as much importance as any grand finals match. Leading the charge for season 2 are two of the top teams from season 1, making their triumphant return to the stage of the MPL PH. The returning top teams, who without a doubt continue to be the frontrunners in the tournament and the bar to which the rest of the teams aim for, return as renewed teams.  The defending MPL PH grand champions, Aether Main, have re-branded as BREN Esports, while the team formerly known as OBS Gaming has been picked up by the longstanding Filipino esports organization, Execration. The Digital Devils Pro Gaming squad from season 1 also return to the league under a new banner, they will be fighting in season 2 as Cignal Ultra.

The familiar names in the team standings didn’t fare that well in our season opener as some of the new bloods proved to be quick to establish a name for themselves this early in the tournament. The new Aether Main squad were quick to shoot up to the front of the pack as they managed to come out with wins in their two matchups this weekend. Aether Main scored 2-1 against SxC Imba on Day 1, and against Happy Feet on Day 2. It’ll be worth keeping an eye on this reinvigorated squad as the weeks of the regular season continues. The players may have changed, but the same ferocity that Aether Main is known for, still remains crystal clear and painfully obvious to the teams unlucky enough to be paired off as their opponents.

Cignal Ultra, surprised us with their impressive regular season start as they took down the twin teams from ArkAngel in final series of Day 1 and the first series of Day 2. ArkAngel Wicked Minds managed to take a game off of Cignal Ultra in their best-of-three series but they soon proved to come up short when it mattered most as Cignal barreled their way towards a 2-1 victory. ArkAngel Ownage didn’t fair much better against Cignal, even after their 2-1 win over Happy Feet. Cignal Ultra clobbered ArkAngel Ownage with a swift 2-0 victory to close out their first MPL PH Season 2 weekend with two wins safely in their pockets. Finesse Solid, another newcomer to the league, came out of the opening weekend with a commendable 1-1 series score as they first took down White Rascals Alliance in the first series of the season but fell to a rampaging ArkAngel Wicked Minds in Day 2. They may not have finished week 1 with a pristine record, but they’re a team worth keeping a watchful eye on.

Week 1 was capped off with a best-of-three series between the returning titans from season 1, BREN Esports and Execration. The entire series proved to be a bit more one-sided than returning fans of MPL PH Season 1 would have hoped, but it was still an amazing display of raw Mobile Legends: Bang Bang skill from both side. When all was said and done in the final series of week 1, BREN Esports emerged seemingly unscathed as they walk away with clean 2-0 victory, the perfect note to end the first week of  the Mobile Legends Professional League Philippines Season 2 regular season.

We are still far off from affixing any championship contender title to any one team, but the results for week 1 build towards the idea that any one of these ten teams has what it takes to hoist the MPL PH Season 2 trophy. Catch the next round of matches next weekend as the search for the country’s best Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team continues!