RSG PH stumbles vs RRQ Hoshi, drops to MSC 2022 lower bracket

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — RSG Philippines failed to sustain their tournament rampage as they suffered a stinging 3-1 loss against Indonesia's RRQ Hoshi in the upper bracket finals of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asian Cup (MSC) 2022 on Sunday.

They were dominating the tournament as they dropped only one game before hitting a wall versus the Indonesian powerhouse.

The Philippine champions looked lethal in the opener, taking a 7-2 lead on the kill tally in the 3rd minute after Jonard Cedrix “Demonkite” Caranto's (Ling) double kill.

But RRQ displayed nerves of steel in securing the 10th minute lord and forced a 2-0 pick off in the ensuing play, to turn back the net worth deficit.

The Indonesians then showed superb mechanical display in a 19th minute team fight as they outplayed RSG to take a 2-0 wipe and go up, 1-0.

In Game 2, RSG took the lead after a 2-0 wipe in a 4th minute turtle fight but it proved momentary as RRQ caught them overcommitting in a 5th minute midlane skirmish that the Indonesians won via a 4-1 trade off to equalize.

Deden Muhammad “Clayyy” Nurhasan (Yve) then delivered a clutch lord steal in the 9th minute that touched off a 5-2 wipe for RRQ

RRQ's rampage culminated in a 17th minute lord fight where they traded Albert Nielsen “Alberttt” Iskandar (Julian) for four RSG players to reach match point, 2-0.

With their backs against the wall, RSG played with urgency and took the early game starting with Demonikte's (Karina) double kill in the 4th minute turtle fight, then leaned on Dylan “Light” Catipon's (Franco) pinpoint Iron Hooks to take pickoffs after pickoffs.

RSG then executed a high-IQ play in the 15th minute when they flanked RRQ from the toplane bush, using the camouflage to implement a sandwich play that resulted in 3-0 wipe and the enhanced lord.

The Filipinos ran away with a massive 21-5 kill spread in a 17th minute conquest to force Game 4.

In Game 4, it was RSG who again came out on the of a 4th minute turtle fight spearheaded by Eman “EMANN” Sangco's (Beatrix) double kill to establish a 2k gold lead.

It looked like a rubber match was one the way when RSG picked off Calvin “VYN” (Ruby) in the 15th minute but they overcommitted in the ensuing lord fight, losing a 4-1.

Not even Demonkite's (Julian) clutch lord steal in the 20th minute could save RSG as RRQ just had the answer every time and took a 25th minute series-clinching win.

—JMB, GMA News