Here are our top 3 teams to watch in the upcoming PMSL SEA
The first edition of PUBG Mobile Super League (PMSL) is set to begin on March 22, 2023, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The tournament features 20 teams vying for the coveted trophy and a spot in the record breaking prize pool tournament, Gamers8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next summer. PMSL was the result of Tencent’s long-planned franchise league, with the SEA region as the starting point.
According to their page, the league will consist of qualified teams alongside ‘Partnership Teams’ hand-selected by Level Infinite and VSPO which receives a permanent invitation to PMSL. The PMSL will replace the already established SEA Championship as a new model and promised tighter schedule, with many games to be played in shorter weeks.
The changing competition format has an impact on PMPL regulations that are currently running in every country in Southeast Asia. The tighter intensity of the match paved the way for teams that favored tighter, consistent gameplay over massive kill points which usually happened during Super Weekend in the old SEA Championship structures.
Based on their performances in their respective leagues, we observed top three teams that could inflict some serious damage in this first iteration of PMSL SEA.
Boom Esports
Boom Esports won its first title in the major PUBGM tournament in Indonesia since its inception in 2019. In PMPL ID Spring 2023, they managed to seize the winning title on February 23rd 2023. The inclusion of Muhammad “KeyMine” Azzami and former Alter Ego’s star, Teuku “Ponbit” Muhammad Kausar, added the stability which the team has been searching for. Throughout the two weeks of tough competition in PMPL ID Spring 2023, they demonstrated great adaptability and a strong defensive formation, dubbed as “the strongest shell” by Indonesian pundits.
Despite Boom’s lack of international experience in PUBGM competition, they said that they are intensely watching gameplay from top teams at the moment and claimed to have some tricks up in their sleeve. Moreover, highly rated player Bastian “Hexaz” Saragih has returned and is expected to boost their firepower.
Vampire Esports
Vampire Esports became one of the most successful teams in the PUBG Mobile competitive scene in Southeast Asia throughout the 2022 season. They won major competitions such as PMPL Thailand Spring 2022 and PUBGM World Invitational in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in August 2022.
Vampire Esports surprised the PUBGM SEA fans by bringing in two hottest SEA players, Sikarin “Noozy” Nopparat (The Infinity) and Nattawut “TonyK” Muensa (FaZe Clan), ahead of PMPL Thailand Spring 2023 last month. Despite coming second, Vampire Esports is the only team with the most individual accolades in that competition. With players that have extensive experience in international games, there is no doubt that they will be able to overcome whatever that come across their way.
Geek Slate
Geek Slate has been able to retain the consistency that has made them one of the Southeast Asian teams to be reckoned with since 2021. The Malaysian team has shown that they can compete at the highest level with or without Malaysian wonderkid Muhammad “Uhigh” Dhiya Ulhaq. Geek Slate won PMPL MYSG from 2021 to Spring 2023, failing only once against RSG Malaysia in the Spring Season 2021.
Geek Slate’s experience and consistency have made them a formidable opponent to deal with, in and outside of SEA. One of their recent highlights was in PMGC Grand Finals Last Chance Qualifiers in December 2022, where they defied expectations and topped the Yellow group. It would be interesting to see their new plans for PMSL SEA 2023.
