By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Philippine-based esports squad Echo PH silenced their doubters after securing a spot in the upper bracket finals of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) M4 World Championships last January 12, 2023.
The Filipino ML players figured in a chess match against Indonesia’s Onic Esports during the best-of-five upper bracket semifinals, 3-1, held at the Tennis Indoor Stadium Senayan, Jakarta Indonesia.
Despite facing co-Filipino and the tagged “most talented jungler of MLBB” Kairi, the Echo boys stuck to their aggressive game plan to set up an all-Pinoy final in the upper bracket of the competition.
Several days ago, reigning and defending World Champions Blacklist International, another PHL-based esports team, first clinched a seat in the finals of the upper bracket after surviving Indonesian team RRQ Hoshi, 3-2, in the upper bracket semis.
Echo found themselves in deep trouble after giving up their lead in the second match when Kairi kited them with his slick Hayabusa maneuver in the winning clash of Game 2.
After Echo got the Lord, Kairi baited them to delay their push and pulled off a ‘fake teleport’ move to lure them into the top bush.
Kairi then burst them with his in-and-out skills that set up his teammates’ arrival just in time for the momentum-clinching clash.
Four heroes went down for Echo during that exchange which allowed Onic to push the middle lane on their way to equalizing the intense matchup, 1-1.
Just when Onic thought they already sucked the life out of Echo after that disappointing Game 2 result, the Filipinos showed nerves of steel and ramped up their intensity after sweeping the next two games in convincing fashion.
Echo’s Bennyqt had a performance of a lifetime after leading the Filipinos with his signature Beatrix pick in the last match.
His Beatrix not only spearheaded their comeback but was also the one who dealt the most damage output after putting up 11 kills and eight assists.
