In a remarkable turn of events, AP Bren broke their MLBB Pro League Philippines title drought by defeating Blacklist International in the grand finals of MPL PH Season 12 last night. This victory marked their second championship title, the first being in MPL PH Season 6 in mid-2020.
This triumph is particularly significant for the Hive, considering the challenges they faced in their management since 2021. The team experienced internal issues and the departure of key players, including Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, who joined Echo, and Carlito “Ribo” Ribo.
However, under the leadership of head coach Francis “Ducky” Glindro, the team underwent a thorough management overhaul and actively sought after young, talented players with ambitious spirits. Their performance began to improve noticeably from MPL PH Season 10 and 11, consistently securing top-four positions and eventually achieved a perfect synergy in Season 12.
Facing the revitalized Blacklist, who demonstrated their ability to excel in the absence of their icons, Johnmar “OHMYV33NUS” Villaluna and Danerie “Wise” Rosario, Bren initially encountered skepticism. Yet, they dispelled any doubts by defeating the MPL PH Queen 4-1 at the EVM Convention Center.
In Game 1, Blacklist International banned most of Michael “KyleTzy” Sayson’s favored picks, but the latter casually picked Dyrroth and showcasing his effective jungling skills. Combined with Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano’s Brodi play, Bren strategically dominated each lane, leading to a conclusive victory within 15 minutes.
Game 2 witnessed David Charles “FlapTzy” Canon and Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo’s coordinated efforts, providing KyleTzy ample room to wreak havoc, ultimately securing a convincing win within 16 minutes.
Blacklist’s Kiel “Oheb” Soriano interrupted Bren’s winning streak in Game 3, exhibiting remarkable performance with Ixia, securing 11 out of 13 kills. Teaming up with Salic “Hadji” Imam’s Faramis, they effectively thwarted Bren’s control over the game.
Despite this setback, Bren regrouped in Game 4, with Super Marco taking charge and limiting Blacklist’s Angela, leading to a swift victory in just 15 minutes. With one win away from victory, Bren sealed Blacklist’s fate in the final game, with Owgwen’s Ruby complementing FlapTzy’s Arlott, delivering a stunning blow to Blacklist and clinching the title in 21 minutes.
This win marks Bren’s second significant victory in a major MLBB event this season. Just a few months ago, they triumphed in the 2023 IESF event held in Romania as the representative of the Philippines, fielding the same strong lineup. With a lot of hype surrounding the team, they are poised to be one of the leading contenders for the M5 championship in their homeland this December.
