BLACKLIST INTERNATIONAL capped off their MPL Philippines Season 14 campaign with back-to-back sweeps against RSG Philippines and reigning world champions Falcons AP.Bren. The competition could not get steeper in the remaining weeks of the regular season, yet synergy and discipline spelled the difference for Blacklist International.
The end of the regular season is fast approaching, but Blacklist International seems to be more connected than ever, reaching a new form that stuns their rivals.
Kiel “Oheb” Soriano knew the importance of connecting with teammates both inside and outside the game, but the commitment to the grind remained his top priority, and he made sure that all the Codebreakers were on the same page.
“Para sa akin, kunyari sa mga scrim namin, kapag hindi kami maayos sa scrim, parang ang hirap mag-bond outside the game. Kasi kunyari, puro talo [tayo] sa scrim and sa tournament. Tapos parang nahihirapan ako na parang nagba-bonding tayo, pero parang mas marami pa tayong kailangan pag-usapan about sa mga games natin o kung paano improve yung sarili natin,” Oheb said.
“Kapag kunyari nakikita na namin sa practices and sa scrims yung improvement namin, parang mas magaan na sa team and sa inside tsaka sa outside the game mag-bond,” he added.
Meanwhile, joining Blacklist International after his MSC 2024 stint with Cambodia’s See You Soon, Michael "MP the King" Endino reflected on the adjustments he went through.
“Kapag puro talo ka dito, sa scrim puro talo, tapos lose streak pero sa tournament, parang ang hirap, ang hirap i-approach yung player kasi paano mo ba sisimulan? Kasi normal na lang din naman siguro sa players na hindi magiging prangka ka bigla sa kapwang teammates na, “Huy, ang tanga mo bakit mo ginawang ganito, ganyan, diba?”
"Parang hindi normal yan sa mga players ngayon. Kaya parang nakakailang approach,” MP the King recalled how he was reserved with his teammates when he first joined Blacklist International.
Keeping their head in the game
Despite displaying noticeable improvements in the second half of the regular season, the coaching staff made sure that the Blacklist International is headed on the right path with firm supervision and keep their feet on the ground.
“Kasi kami mga oras kasi minsan na kampante kami. Example: si Coach Bon, pag sa scrim, panalo na tapos gumagawa pa kami ng ikakatalo namin. Parang magagalit siya,” MP the King revealed.
“Kapag natalo kami dahil sa kasalanan namin, parang hindi siya acceptable sa kanila. Parang kami mismo yung nagpatalo sa sarili namin. Kunyare sa practice parang tatapusin na lang, tapos tumanga pa kami. Parang doon talaga sila nagagalit and naninermon. Panalo na kami, tapos tumanga pa kami. Parang sinasabi na, “Ganyan ba ipapakita niyo sa MPL?” Oheb said.
“So ano, kailangan talaga yung gano'ng pagka-strict ng mga coaches na nakikita namin ngayon. Kaya sobrang laking nakatulong din siya para mag-improve kami,” Oheb added, acknowledging that the coaches are guiding them in the right direction.
Over the course of time, Blacklist International developed stronger communication, adapting to a system, sharing strategies, and working on improvements together.
“Simula nun na buo namin yung disiplina, parang mas gumaan lahat. Parang hindi na kami naiilang sa bawat isa kasi maganda naman laruan, may pag-usapan tayong maganda, tapos pag may mali, madali na i-point out kasi nga, komportable na sa bawat isa,” MP the King expressed, being comfortable with his teammates to hold each other accountable.
“Para sa akin siguro, parang nabubuo na namin yung chemistry na hinahanap namin. Parang nakaka-fit in na bawat isa sa amin. Parang wala nang nahihirapan sa aming lima compared sa mga past games namin na kailangan namin intindihin si ganito kasi ganyan, kailangan namin alalayan si ganito kasi ganyan. Wala ng ganoon. Parang naging stable na lahat. Kaya parang mas gumaan lahat,” he added.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
