By REYNALD MAGALLON
MPL Philippines Season 14 champion Fnatic Onic Philippines and runner-up Aurora Gaming assured that they are ready to defend the country’s title in the M6 World Championships even as the crowning tournament of the Mobile Legends Esports introduces a new format for the group stage that fires off on Nov. 28.
Unlike the previous five iterations of the world championships, the M6 is applying a five-round swiss format in the group stage before the double-elimination playoffs of the tournament which was last ruled by a Philippine team, Falcons AP.Bren.
The two PH representatives said they are ready for the competition even with the new challenges brought by the new format as well as the rise of other regions like Malaysia and Indonesia.
“Very much ready, yes, I guess. Pero ‘yon nga, you never really know. We have to prepare, prepare, prepare kasi ‘yon nga eh, lahat din naman iyon nagpeprepare,” said FNOP head coach Tony “Ynot” Senedrin during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
“We’re the defending champions, Philippines, so it’s really the world looking at us right now so it’s really our job to defend,” he added.
It will be the franchise’s third appearance in the Worlds but the Sonics are bringing in new faces with all of its players in the main five only making their first stint in the M-series.
Of the five, only gold laner Duane “Kelra” Pillas has the experience in the international events, having won the MLBB Southeast Asia Cup 2021 as part of Execration.
But Ynot doesn’t see any problems with that.
“Gano’n din naman the previous season 14 na lahat kami went in as not winners technically. Dati may galing sa bottom, so it’s more of us making sure na nando’n ‘yung gutom talaga. And I’m pretty sure nga na we will just drive each other, na ‘’wag natin sayangin ‘tong opportunity na ‘to,” said Ynot.
While a relatively new team – still fresh off its first season in the MPL PH – Aurora, on the other hand, is already boasting veterans who have already played in the worlds.
Edward “Edward” Dapadap was an M3 World Champion and still saw action along with current teammates Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo, and Renejay “Renejay” Barcase in last year’s M5 Worlds where their team, Blacklist International, finished third.
While head coach Aniel “Master the Basics” Jiandani sees that as an advantage, he stressed that the team must remain hungry for them to achieve their goals.
“Advantage siya kasi naexperience na namin pero kailangan pa rin ituring naming itong stage na ‘to na parang first time lang din namin,” said MTB.
“Kapag hindi mo pa talaga naabot ‘yung goal niyo, mas nandodoon ‘yung ano eh ‘yung gigil niyo na na magcompete pa, na manalo pa, and siguraduhin na makuha niyo ‘yung title,” he added.
