Execration ousted reigning M2 world champions Bren Esports from the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 7 playoffs by pulling off an incredible 3-2 reverse sweep over their opponents in the league’s lower bracket semi-finals on Saturday (29 May).
Execration finished the regular season with a middling 6-7 record and had to start the playoffs from the lower bracket. They survived two full best-of-five elimination matches against ONIC PH and Omega Esports to advance to the lower bracket semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Bren Esports were knocked down to the lower bracket after a narrow 2-3 loss to Blacklist International in the opening round of the upper bracket on Thursday (27 May).
Despite losing their previous series, Bren Esports were pegged as heavy favorites coming into their matchup against Execration. The reigning world champions opened the series strong by taking game one in 22 minutes and with a 22-9 kill lead.
Execration put up a better fight in game two but were narrowly edged out after 26 minutes of action by Bren Esports, who took a commanding 2-0 series lead.
With their backs against the wall in game three, Execration pulled off a veritable miracle and repelled what would have been the series-winning push by Bren Esports around the 15-minute mark. While the reigning world champions still held control of the map, Execration had the momentum and started breaking into their opponents’ base 24 minutes in.
Despite being on the back foot, Bren Esports put an incredible defense of their own base to force a stalemate as the game went past 30 minutes. A veritable chess match then ensued for the next 20 minutes, as both teams carefully maneuvered around each other to find an opportunity to break the deadlock.
Execration made the winning move at the 48-minute mark, as they managed to snatch control of Lord from right under the noses of Bren Esports and gained the advantage they needed to finally decide the game. Despite a valiant defense from the reigning world champions, Execration won game three after a 50-minute marathon to spark their comeback in the series.
Bren Esports seemed exhausted and shaken after losing game three. Instead of a quick 15-minute stomp to secure the series sweep, they had suffered a crushing loss after almost an hour. In stark contrast, Execration were riding high on the momentum from their win and easily took game four in 18 minutes to force the series to a do-or-die game five.
It seemed as if Bren Esports were unable to recover from game three, as Execration blitzed them in the 16-minute decider to complete the reverse sweep and keep their tournament hopes alive.
After becoming the best team in the world with their victories in MPL PH Season 6 and the M2 World Championship, Bren Esports bow out of MPL PH Season 7 in fourth place.
Meanwhile, Execration advance to the lower bracket finals to face Aura PH, who lost to an ascendant Blacklist International in the upper bracket finals. The winner of the match between Execration and Aura PH will face Blacklist International in the best-of-seven grand finals to determine who will be the new top dogs of the MLBB scene in the Philippines.
Lineups:
Execration:
Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog
Patrick “E2MAX” Caidic
Renz “Renzio” Cadua
Kiel VJ “Kielvj” Cruzem
Duane “Kelra” Pillas
Bren Esports:
Karl Gabriel “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno
David Charles “FlapTzy” Canon
Carlito “Ribo” Ribo Jr.
Allan “Lusty” Castromayor Jr.
Angelo Kyle “Pheww” Arcangel
Read also:
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Behind the scenes of the first MPL SG, held offline during COVID-19
Oh Deer Bambi leads Kingsmen while juggling studies at NUS
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