Pinoys win MLBB world crown

MANILA, Philippines — For the fourth straight edition, the world esports title in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) belonged to the Philippines.

Home team AP Bren subdued Onic Esports Indonesia in a thrilling back-and-forth duel, 4-3, to win the MLBB M5 World Championship over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

It’s a sweet vengeance for the Philippine bet which bowed to its Indonesian rival in the upper bracket finals before turning the tide in the best-of-seven grand finals before a roaring home crowd.

Led by coach Francis “Duckey” Glindro, AP Bren thus became the first multi winner of the M-series world tilt, being also the winner of the second edition. AP Bren also distinguished itself the first host team to win the tourney.

AP Bren’s win sustained the Philippines’ dominant run in the world stage as compatriots Blacklist International and Echo Philippines had had their turns winning the M3 and M4, respectively. Only Evos Legends from Indonesia, the inaugural champions, managed to steal one from the Philippines.

And like in its first championship in Singapore in 2020 with a 4-3 decision over the Burmese Ghouls of Myanmar, AP Bren had to dig deep to fend off a blazing comeback attempt by Onic Indonesia.

Motivated by a previous 0-3 loss in the upper bracket finals against the same squad, AP Bren raced to a 3-1 lead in the rematch, with Finals MVP David “FlapTzy” Canon wreaking havoc.

But Onic, led by Filipino reinforcement Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol and under the watch of Pinoy coach Denver “Yeb” Miranda, refused to surrender, snatching Games 5 and 6 to force a winner-take-all match.

With solid support from Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo, Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano and Michael “KyleTzy” Sayson and captain Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel, Canon anchored AP Bren’s comeback from a 5-7 kill deficit en route to hoisting the Golden Road crown.

The M5 conquest completed a hat-trick for AP Bren following earlier wins in the MLBB Pro League-Philippines (MPL-PH) Season 12 and the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

AP Bren took home the $300,000 (P16.7 million) grand prize as runner-up Onic Esports ($120,000) and third-placer Blacklist ($80,000) also took the podium in the M5 that also drew the participation of bets from the United States, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar and Mongolia.