HOT AND COLD

World champion AP Bren is blowing hot and cold in the opening weekend of the Mobile Legends Professional League Philippines Season 12.

Shortly after winning the IESF World Esports Championship 2023 in Romania, AP Bren waxed hot as it pulled off a 2-0 sweep of TNC Pro Team, 2-0, on Friday before suffering a razor-thin setback to RSG PH on Sunday, 1-2, at the Shooting Gallery Studios in Makati City.

RSG PH pushed AP Bren to the limit.

After scoring one game apiece, AP Bren took the lead in the early stretch of Game 3 and was ahead on kills, gold, and turrets destroyed.

They, however, failed to close the match, allowing RSG to mount a comeback and close the series in 35 minutes.

AP Bren jungler Kyle Angelo "KyleTzy" Sayson said the team was simply outdrafted which proved to be crucial in the deciding game.

"I think our problem was we lacked an initiator to end the game. We failed to close the game even though we were way ahead. Maybe because of our heroes, we only had one crowd control. They had a strong defense," KyleTzy stated.

AP Bren head coach Francis "Ducky" Glindro, meanwhile, believes that the game started to turn sour almost halfway through Game 3.

"After the eleventh-minute mark, there were micro errors. There was a sudden charge of gold from RSG which was why there was a swing of momentum," Ducky said.

"If it was not for that, I think we could have easily closed out the game. It was very unfortunate."

Despite the setback, AP Bren currently sits at No. 3 with a 1-1 record and four points. They will face ONIC PH on Friday before confronting Minana Evos two days later.