Powerhouse Blacklist International returns to the top spot following a couple of impressive victories in Week 4 of the Mobile Legends Professional League Philippines Season 10.
After a sluggish start in which it lost to ONIC PH and ECHO in Week 3, the M3 Mobile Legends world champion bounced back with emphatic wins over TNC and RSG to boost its record to five wins and two losses.
It now has 14 points, two points ahead of ONIC PH.
Blacklist coach Kristoffer Ed "BON CHAN" Ricaplaza said their first two losses gave them valuable lessons that they carried as they went on in their title campaign.
"Every time we lose, we learn a valuable lesson," said BON CHAN, whose wards have a winning pedigree after ruling Seasons 7 and 8 of this prestigious tournament.
"In those defeats, we become better. If we do not experience losing, we will not improve. It is proof that those on top would not always be on top. Everyone is equal in Season 10."
Blacklist skipper Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna added that their victories over TNC and RSG PH were no walks in the park.
"We know how good TNC is so we had to take extra care after what they showed against ONIC," said Villaluna, a gold medalist in the Mobile Legends event of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.
"We did not get upset about losing twice because what team did that other than us? It is a compliment. We have been through many similar scenarios."
Also playing an inspired game is reigning champion RSG PH when it prevailed over ECHO last Saturday.
After hearing Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno say that Blacklist is worthless after ECHO defeated it on Week 3, RSG played hard in making sure that it would not be on the receiving end of such words when it faces the brash ECHO squad.
RSG's jungler Jonard "Demonkite" Caranto said ECHO's remark on their fellow champion fired them up, pushing them to their best from start to finish.
"This is the most exciting match because lately, I hear them say that their opponents are worthless so we wanted to show them," Demonkite, who bannered RSG PH to the Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup 2022 title, stressed.
"My mindset is to be good and have discipline. I do not think about our opponents."
With half of the regular season over, the reigning MPL champion currently sits at No. 5 with a 4-3 standing and 12 points.
