Newcomer Michael “MP The King” Endino made an immediate impact, leading Blacklist International to a crucial 2-1 victory over Aurora on Sunday to secure the final playoffs spot in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 14 (MPL S14).
The 20-year-old Endino, who recently joined Blacklist from Team See You Soon, played a pivotal role in their victory, especially in the third match. His performance helped Blacklist clinch the last playoff berth as they wrapped up the elimination round at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati.
In the decisive game, Endino used the fighter-mage hero Bane to record nine kills, guiding Blacklist to a hard-fought 20-14 win over Aurora in a match that lasted 22 minutes and 33 seconds. The win secured Blacklist a 5-9 win-loss record, placing them sixth overall and solidifying their playoff qualification.
On the previous day, Aurora had swept RSG Philippines 2-0 with dominating 13-5 and 14-4 victories, effectively eliminating RSG from playoff contention. This opened the door for Blacklist to seize the final playoff spot.
Despite the pressure, Blacklist coach Bon Chan emphasized their determination to prove they deserve a place in the playoffs:
“It’s not a good mindset to rely on other teams for our qualification. So, even though this match wasn’t critical, we wanted to show our fans that we deserve to be here,” said Coach Bon Chan.
Aurora took the first game of the series, securing a narrow 10-8 win. However, Blacklist came back strong in Game 2, with Endino’s Chou, a kung fu fighter, leading the charge with 10 kills. Blacklist dominated, winning 23-10 in a 22-minute showdown.
Aurora, led by captain Edward Dapadap, also advanced to the playoffs as the fourth seed, finishing the elimination round with an 8-6 record.
