Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
    View Today
    Sun, Nov 5

    Why the MPL PH changed their regular season schedule to six weeks

    Will this be a permanent fixture in the MPL PH?
    Aug 18, 2023
    undefined
    PHOTO: MPL Philippines

    THE MPL PHILIPPINES recently revealed the final schedule for Season 12, which features some of the most awaited matchups in the scene.

    Blacklist International vs. ECHO PH will headline the opening festivities, in which the former will be having three straight games in Week 1 against challenging threats like RSG PH and Omega Esports.

    However things are different this season as the league decided to follow MPL Indonesia's six week regular season grind.

    Per day there will be an average of three matches instead of two on both Fridays and Sundays. The second day of weeks three and six will have a unique structure as there will be four matches instead of three.

    Everything seemed cramped for Season 12 as MOONTON revealed their reasons for the regular season shift.

    "Reason for this is we started kinda late because of the other international tournaments. So generally the strategy for MLBB Esports is to deconflict our main tournaments, namely MPLs with the other tournaments of our third party since we want to support them and give them as much resources as well," said Harold "Harry" Leonardo, the esports marketing lead of MOONTON.

    But besides giving more space for third party events, the upcoming M5 campaign, which will be held in the Philippines, was also a factor.

    "And then second is also we cannot extend the date of the MPL PH because we're hosting the M5 here in the Philippines and it needs also much preparation from the winning team since they need more time to train."

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    undefined

    Will this new format be a recurring trend?

    But that wasn't the only reason for the drastic change. Back in the Season 11 playoffs, Bren Esports had to contend with a really packed schedule where the team had to juggle in their preparations for the IESF qualifiers, Season 11 playoffs, and SEA Games.

    CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓
    Watch Now

    "This actually was a feedback that was acknowledged. If I remember correctly, coach Ducky actually raised it na parang if MPL Indonesia can do it, to help the teams have more time to prepare for other international tournaments that they want to join in, then why not for MPL Philippines, right?" said Keith Medrano, MOONTON's regional PR manager.

    He added: "So again, the league listens to these kinds of feedback. So we decided na, 'Yeah, why not make it six weeks para naman makapag-prepare pa yung team sa other international tournaments that they join."

    Given the shift in format, will this the new trend for the following seasons? Here's what Medrano has to say.

    "I cannot confirm for now because this is something that we have to plan because we have to consider also the mapping for next year. We'll share more details as soon as we reveal the 2024 esports roadmap."

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    Then when asked as to why the league didn't star the season earlier similar to what happened in Indonesia, Medrano explained that this was an internal agreement involving the teams.

    "Well, based on our internal alliance and also consultations with the teams, this is the most efficient and pinaka-tamang schedule for this season," said Medrano.

    As the regular season is about to commence, comes the excitement from fans who are dying to see their idols return to action.

    MLBB fans in the Philippines can watch the regular season games in the Shooting Gallery Studios in Makati.

    Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

    Read Next
    Watch Now
    Sorry, no results found for
    PHOTO: MPL Philippines
  • POLL

    • Quiz

      Quiz Result