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    Blacklist survives grueling champion vs. champion affair

    Blacklist are back in winning terms
    Sep 4, 2022
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    THE BATTLE of the M3 World Champions and the reigning MSC Champions finally concluded, with Blacklist International surviving one of the toughest challenges of their lives as they defeated RSG Philippines 2-1.

    The entire series was an absolute grindfest as both teams exchanged back-and-forth blows with neither having a distinct edge until the tail end of teamfights.

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      Blacklist vs. RSG PH recap

      It was RSG who controlled the pace of the opener, with the Raiders forcing pick-offs and team fights against Blacklist.

      It was Light who lead the RSG charge on his Lolita, producing highlight play after highlight play with his Noumenon Blast flicker, catching Blacklist’s heroes off guard.

      But the defending World champs managed to hold on, punishing RSG’s over-aggressions, including a 16-minute conceal play where the Agents took down four Raiders. This allowed Blacklist to mount a small comeback, taking down the Lord and breaking into RSG’s base.

      As everything looked grim for RSG, it was Dylan "Light" Catipon who kept the Raiders in the fight. His conceal play repositioning allowed RSG to push back Blacklist’s siege, which he immediately followed up with a huge Noumenon Blast flicker play in mid that caught four of Blacklist's heroes.

      RSG would burst down three heroes, enough to take Game 1.

      Their backs against the wall, Blacklist took Lolita from RSG and retained their Faramis from Game 1. With Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna on his Lolita, Blacklist turned on the jets to control the game. The threat of the Lolita stun made RSG double-think their initiation, while the Faramis Cult Altar gave Kiel "OHEB" Soriano’s Claude the green light to go headfirst into RSG’s team.

      With the more aggressive play, Blacklist was able to force the decider in just under 11 minutes.

      This led to the final game, where it was the ultimate chess game for both teams. For either side to win, eliminating Eman "EMANN" Sangco or Kiel "Oheb" Soriano was key, as these two were the primary damage dealers for both teams.

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      The decider saw Blacklist bring out their iconic OhMyV33nus Mathilda, as well as Salic "Hadji" Imam's Pharsa as an answer to RSG's Lolita and Kaguya mid-duo.

      RSG tried to deny Danerie "Wise" Del Rosario's Karina by picking it for their own, but was answered by the Agents with a Balmond pick. It would be a back-and-forth affair for the two teams as they found trade after trade and hold after hold with both squads showcasing top-tier plays to stay in the game.

      It was a test of courage and attrition, but most importantly, a battle of strategic prowess as both teams had to creatively look for loopholes to eliminate the opposing gold laner.

      It was Blacklist who found the crucial fight in the 32-minute decider. Edward "EDWARD" Dapadap’s Esmeralda found an opening when he managed to catch Eman "EMANN" Sangco’s Beatrice in the final Lord dance. From here, Blacklist took down three RSG heroes before going back to finish the lord and eventually end the series.

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      Blacklist's late game experience was key for their victory

      “Si Mumshie yung nagcall (the final play) nakita niya yung Beatrice sa mid so pinaikot niya ako,” Edward told MPL media after the game.

      For OhMyV33nus, it was their experience in long games that made the difference.

      “Na-e-experience na rin namin yung 53-minutes so parang mental fortitude na ng team,” OhMyV33nus said.

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