Echo avoids reverse sweep, edges Team HAQ for upper bracket semis berth

JAKARTA — Philippine team Echo booked an upper bracket semifinals ticket after surviving gutsy Team HAQ of Malaysia, 3-2, in their best-of-five series in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M4 World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday. 

Gold laner Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales (Karrie) unleashed Echo’s signature sneaky backdoor play to take Team HAQ’s base and take a marathon Game 1 with an even 20-20 kill spread for both teams.

Bennyqt got the MVP plum with a KDA line of 11/3/3 to finish off the Malaysians in 24 minutes and six seconds. 

The Orcas then needed just 12 minutes to destroy Team HAQ in Game 2 with Bennyqt using the same hero to earn the MVP award anew with 10 kills and four assists against one death.

In Game Three, though, Echo made an interesting play by banning Karrie with Bennyqt picking the Beatrix, but it proved ineffective as they fell to Team HAQ to be denied a clean sweep. Garyy showed the way for Team HAQ in Game Four as the Malaysian team forced a Game 5 with their own kind of a backdoor play. 

But Echo found its rhythm in the decider to avoid absorbing a reverse sweep after an 11-4 win within almost 11 minutes. Alston "Sanji" Pabico carried the Orcas with five kills and four assists against one death on his Yve.

In the semifinals, Echo will face Indonesia’s Onic Esports who earlier defeated Falcon Esports to march to the next round. Onic is bannered by Filipino import Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol and Pinoy coach Denver “Yeb” Miranda.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News