PH Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Team Strikes Gold at 2019 SEA Games
The Sibol Mobile Legends: Bang Bang staff and players. (Source: Egg Network)
Taking home the first-ever gold medal of esports at the 2019 SEA Games, the Philippines clinched a 3-2 win against Indonesia in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Grand Finals at the FilOil Flying VCentre in San Juan, Manila.
A Historic First for Esports
The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Grand Finals had the Philippines and Indonesia in a contentious best-of-five series to see who would win the gold medal.
Opening up the series, Indonesia and the Philippines went blow-for-blow trading kills left and right. However, one teamfight was all it took for Kenneth Jiane “Kenji” Villa’s Chou to end the game with his splitpush in the Top Lane giving Philippines the advantage 1-0.
In Game 2, Indonesia’s lineup kept picking off the Filipinos one by one securing a 6,000 gold lead eight minutes into the game. Indonesia would then snowball their lead with Khufra and Esmeralda going unstoppable 11 minutes in to even the series.
Midway into the series, the Philippines switched it up and played a faster early-game tempo with a 2000 gold lead four minutes into the game. Indonesia took advantage of their rashness however and turned the game around with a gold lead of their own by eight minutes. Despite their valiant efforts, the Philippines lost Game 3 putting the series at match point 2-1.
With their backs pushed against the wall, the Philippines flourished. Karl Gabriel “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno held his ground for the Philippines evening out Indonesia’s early tower lead. The Philippines took over the game slowly but surely teamfight after teamfight eventually tying the series once again 2-2.
In the final game of the series, once again KarlTzy came out huge with a 7-kill record five minutes into the game carrying the brunt of the early game for the Filipino squad. From there, it took patience and perseverance from the Philippines to close out the game and the series 3-2 10 minutes later.
The Philippines makes history in Southeast Asia to get the first-ever gold medal finish in an esports title. The fight for gold continues for the rest of the titles tomorrow at 10:00 AM, 9th of December for the Hearthstone, Arena of Valor, and Dota 2 Grand Finals.
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