Smart Omega Empress banners Philippines in third straight MWI stint

Smart Omega Empress will once again don the national colors when the club represents the Philippines in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women's Invitational 2024 that kicks off today, July 24, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

The Filipinas, composed of an all-Cebuana roster, will open their campaign on Thursday, taking on DreamMax Girls of Latin America at 9 p.m. and Net Angels of Myanmar at 10 p.m. in their group stage run. 

Smart Omega, which ruled the Philippine qualifiers over TNC Z4 last May, will look to surpass their previous two showings in MWI with roamer Mery Christine "Meraaay" Vivero leading the way for the squad. 

In 2022, they reached the playoffs but absorbed an early exit after falling to fellow Philippine squad Bren Victress in their quarterfinals showdown. They  made it farther the following edition, cruising to the semifinals of 2023 MWI in Jakarta, but bowed to home team GPX Basreng in two games. 

This time, the Filipinas are all pumped up to take home no less than the title. 

Joining Meraaay in the team that also bagged the silver medal during the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia are exp laner Gwen "not ayanami" Diagon, jungler Kaye Maerylle "Keishi" Alpuerto, midlaner Rica Fatima "Amoree" Amores, and gold laner Sheen "Shinoa" Perez. 

The top two teams from the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals while the bottom team will automatically be booted out. The first day of playoffs on July 26 will see teams figure in best-of-three matches while games on the last day on July 27 will be in best-of-five format. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News