UNMATCHED FO(U)R GOLD: SIBOL MLBB men blank Malaysia, dominate SEAG category since 2019 inclusion

For several editions of the Southeast Asian Games Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Men’s Division, no country has managed to come close against the Filipinos.

Retaining their golden form, the Sibol Men’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) team swept Malaysia in dominant fashion, 4-0, to clinch their fourth gold medal in all editions held for the e-sporting event at the 33rd SEA Games held at Sala Phra Kieo, Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand, Dec. 17.

Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, Kiel “Oheb” Soriano, Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya, Alston “Sanji” Pabico, Jaypee “Jaypee” Dela Cruz, and Carlo “Caloy” Roma cast Sibol’s history-extending line-up after dominating all tournament long to lord over the MLBB men and retain the throne since its introduction in the regional meet at the 30th SEA Games in 2019.

Stamping an early statement for their title defense, the Philippines leaned on Oheb’s mastery with his comfort pick—Granger, 9/1/9 and 10/1/1 KDA’s in game one and two, respectively to jump off to an early 2-0 series lead.

Eyeing a comeback, the Malaysians bought in Muhammad Danish Fitri “Unii” Razman in replacement for Muhammad Haqqullah “Sekys” Ahmad Shahrul Zaman in the jungle, which appeared to work as they built a 9.2k gold lead coming into the 10-minute frame of game three.

Proving composure, Sibol paced back after a series of favorable trades to trim the economy gap versus Malaysia, which was rewarded by KarlTzy’s lord steal at the 16-minute mark to wrest control.

From then on, the Filipinos never looked back as they took advantage of a potentially evolved lord dance to wipe out the Malaysians to snag match point, 3-0.

Despite a replicated draft from the match that spanned for 20 minutes, the Philippines proved flexible as they cruised through the field to wrap up the close-out match in the sub-14-minute mark.

Sibol also found cushion, as KarlTzy was able to execute his signature Lancelot all-series long pick paired with MPL-PH Season 16 Finals MVP Jaypee, who landed his staple Gatotkaca pick in the pivotal Games 3 and 4, where he earned the MVP nods for the said matches.