MPL Philippines Season 12: AP Bren blanks Blacklist International, books M5 berth

The Hive returns to the world stage after three years.

This, after AP Bren demolished former world and national champion Blacklist International, 3-0, in their best-of-five upper bracket finals for a M5 World Championship spot during the MPL Philippines Season 12 Playoffs at EVM Convention Center in Quezon City on Friday, October 27.

Bren barged into the MPL Philippines finale for the first time since Season 6 after sweeping Blacklist – beat them twice in the regular season.

Rowgien "Owgwen" Unigo made his presence felt from the get-go, as he enabled the reigning International Esports Federation (IESF) gold medalist's damage dealers Kyle "Kyletzy" Sayson and Marco "Super Marco" Requitano reached their peak and emerged triumphant in team fights.

Owgwen's Mathilda in the Bo5 opener had a flawless 2/0/7 KDA for the Hive's 10-3 win in nearly 15 minutes.

KyleTzy (Fanny) took down the lord at the 17:14 mark before scoring a double kill against Stephen "Sensui" Castillo and Edward "Edward" Dapadap to give Bren a two-to-nothing advantage.

On the verge of losing, the Codebreakers resisted in the third game, destroying seven towers and slaying three turtles and one lord. Unfortunately, they squandered the chance to stay alive after getting beaten by the Hive in their base.

The defeat dropped the three-time national champion to the lower bracket finals, where they will meet the winner between ECHO and RSG Philippines.

Meanwhile, regular season second placer Bren will wait for their challenger in the same venue on Sunday, October 29.