In a thrilling turn of events at the fifth MLBB World Championship Series (M5), the seasoned MLBB Pro League Malaysia Season 12 champions, HomeBois, emerged as a surprise in the tournament’s opening day by clinching a resounding victory over MLBB Pro League Indonesia Season 12’s dark horse, Geek Fam.
The electrifying showdown unfolded at the EVM Convention Center in Quezon City, where the Malaysian powerhouse outshone Geek Fam, featuring Filipino luminaries Mark “Markyyyy” Capacio and Pinoy Allen “Baloyskie” Baloy, in a gripping M5 World Championship opener on Saturday (12/3).
Despite an initial setback in game 1, Homebois strategically fortified their core and executed a masterful comeback, outsmarting Geek Fam to secure a 25-20 triumph in the 25th minute. Capitalizing on their comeback momentum, Homebois continued their dominance in game 2, clinching a nail-biting 4-7 victory.
The unexpected outcome sent shockwaves through the audience, particularly among viewers from Indonesia and the Philippines, challenging perceptions of Homebois as a dark horse in the M5 competition. Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol, the star jungler from Onic Esports, shared his perspective after witnessing the riveting match.
Reflecting on the post-match interview following Onic Esports’ clash with Bigetron Sons the previous day, Kairi recognized the rapid development of Malaysian teams, dismissing the notion that Geek Fam’s defeat stemmed from a lack of international experience.
“Did Geek Fam lose because they’re lacking international experience? I don’t think so. I think it’s because HomeBois has improved a lot,” asserted Kairi. “We have played against them, so I expected they can win against Geek Fam.”
Currently atop the Group D standings with one victory, HomeBois has surpassed Deus Vult, who secured a 2-1 win against TheOhioBrothers in the opening match. Despite prevailing skepticism regarding Malaysian teams and speculation surrounding their temporary success, Kairi and the Filipino tactician, Paul “Yeb” Denver, underscore the need for due respect for the burgeoning prowess of the region.
“At this point, we can always expect the unexpected,” declared Kairi. Yeb, joining him in the interview room, emphasized, “Team SMG and Homebois are great teams. We should respect them.” The M5 stage is set for more unpredictable twists and turns as the competition unfolds.
