Echo boots out RSG, sets up rematch with Blacklist in lower bracket finals

Echo gets another shot at returning to the world stage after eliminating RSG Philippines, 3-1, during their lower bracket semifinals clash on Friday in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 12 playoffs.

With the win, the defending champion Orcas arranged a rematch with Blacklist International in the lower bracket finals with the winner advancing to the grand finals and the M5 World Championship this December.

Echo previously fell to Blacklist in the upper bracket semis to drop to the lower bracket.

Multi-titled jungler Karl "KarlTZy" Nepomuceno (Akai) delivered a masterful performance in Game 1, unleashing three kills and seven assists against three deaths before midlaner Alston "Sanji" Pabico showed the way in Game 2 on Pharsa as the reigning world champion took a commanding 2-0 lead.

RSG bounced back in Game 3, wiping out the Orcas just before the 14th minute mark en route to pushing towards the base and the victory.

KarlTzy (Martis), who secured all three lords for Echo in Game 4, and the rest of the Orcas then took down four RSG players to finish off the series after 24 minutes.

Echo and Blacklist will dispute the final grand finals ticket on Saturday at 6 p.m.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News