End of the ride, for now..
In a highly anticipated matchup, RRQ Hoshi ended Onic Esports’ nine-game winning streak in week five of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Pro League (MPL) Indonesia Season 11 competition. The reigning ID champions had been on a roll, defeating strong opponents such as RRQ Hoshi, Evos Legends, and Geek Slate in previous weeks.
During the second leg of the Onic versus RRQ Hoshi match last Saturday, March 18th, the teams played it safe in the first game, with RRQ gaining a better draft pick for the early game.
Onic was able to keep up with Kairi’s peak Arlott, but they made a crucial error by wasting all of their opportunities on Vyn alone. RRQ took advantage of this and wiped out most of the Onic players, winning the first game in the 27th minute.
Onic managed to equalize in the second game with an aggressive draft pick consisting of Beatrix, Fredrinn, and Hayabusa. They dominated the game with CW and Kairi taking turns terrorizing RRQ, and closed out the round with a win in just 15 minutes.
However, in the last game, Onic’s attempt to outsmart their opponent by deploying tank Lancelot failed. RRQ’s counter strategy proved to be highly effective, leaving no empty space for Kairi and CW. Onic fell behind in gold and objectives, eventually conceding in less than 14 minutes.
This was a significant win for RRQ Hoshi, who took a considerable risk by changing their head coach ahead of the MPL ID S11 playoffs. Moreover, they finally broke their four-game losing streak in week four.
While Onic has already secured a spot in the MPL ID S11 playoffs, this defeat had no substantial impact on their hopes. Some Onic players appeared unconcerned about their record, with regular player Muhammad “Butss” Sanubari stating in a post-match interview that he believes the loss was necessary to make them “not feel safe and content.”
Overall, this was an exciting matchup that showcased the skills and strategies of both teams. Fans can look forward to more intense games as the MPL ID S11 playoffs approach.
