PH era far from over: AP.Bren, Blacklist banking on home support in M5 Worlds

AP.Bren and Blacklist International are banking on hometown support as they begin their quest to prove that the country’s glowing era in professional Mobile Legends scene is far from fading.

AP.Bren’s roamer Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo and Blacklist’s star gold laner Kiel “Oheb” Soriano emphasized that the presence of the Filipino crowd serves as a major boost after playing most of their tournaments on foreign shores.

“Mas nakakaexcite maglaro. Mas masaya manalo kasi maraming fans kasi sa Pilipinas gaganapin tsaka minsan sa ibang bansa sobrang daming fans ng mga ibang teams sa Indonesia lalo,” said Oheb during the MPL Philippines send-off event on Sunday, Nov. 26, at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

Owgwen echoed the same sentiments, expecting that the Filipino fans would be as loud as the other venues AP.Bren had played in the international stage.

Of course, AP.Bren and Blacklist are ready to take the challenge of making sure the world title remains in the country after winning it for three consecutive editions starting M2.

Interestingly, the Philippine representatives are two former world champions themselves with AP.Bren, then under the name of Bren Esports, winning first before Blacklist International claimed it once more in M3 Worlds.

Blacklist also finished runner-up to another Filipino team ECHO during the M4 Worlds last year in Jakarta, Indonesia.

While still one of the strong contenders in this year’s edition of the Worlds, AP.Bren and Blacklist, however, are set to face greater challenges this time around.

Leading the way in this year’s challengers is Indonesian champion and MSC 2023 titlist Onic Esports.

AP.Bren opens its campaign against fellow M2 finalist and Myanmar’s Burmese Ghouls in the tournament opener on Saturday, Dec. 2. The MPL PH Season 12 champions and IESF WE champion aim for the top two spots in the Group C standings to advance to the playoffs.

Blacklist, on the other hand, begins its quest for redemption against Brazil’s RRQ Akira on Sunday, Dec. 3.