In a fierce conclusive day of the ONE Esports MPL Invitational 2023 last night, RSG Philippines emerged as the unexpected victors, clinching their inaugural title in MPLI with a spectacular triumph over AP Bren and Echo. Undeniably labeled as underdogs, RSG PH defied expectations, illustrating remarkable mental resilience and cohesive teamwork throughout the playoffs, thereby asserting themselves as equals among the competition’s favored teams.
Facing Echo, a team that had solidified its place in the grand finals a day prior, RSG PH confronted a pivotal moment. Despite relinquishing their championship status from MPL PH Season 12, the Purple Orca arrived in Indonesia with a lineup mirroring the previous season, sans Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera. Pundits were inclined to believe that Echo retained formidable prowess.
Yet, RSG PH’s resounding victory against AP Bren in the lower bracket finals transformed skeptics into believers, filling the Basketball Hall Gelora Bung Karno in Central Jakarta with an air of anticipation. The standout performance of Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto, who joined RSG PH from Malaysia for this competition, further fueled expectations of a potential upset.
The opening game witnessed RSG PH’s dominance, executing a highly aggressive strategy anchored by the Paquito-Martis duo wielded by Nathanael “Nathzz” Estrologo and Demonkite, effectively subduing Echo and securing the initial point.
Opting for Guinevere in the second game, Dylan “Light” Catipon aimed for victory, only to be thwarted by the resilience of Echo’s Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya and Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, who orchestrated a comeback, leveling the score.
In the third game, with Guinevere in the hands of KarlTzy, Echo appeared poised for a match point, considering the MPL PH S12 regular season MVP’s flawless win rate with the hero. However, Demonkite, relying on Martis, proved insurmountable, leading RSG PH to a second victory.
Capitalizing on the momentum, Demonkite once again employed Martis in the fourth game, securing the match point for RSG PH. With a draft featuring Claude, Martis, and Paquito, he exploited every opportunity, dismantling Echo’s potential attacks and disrupting their strategies. In a swift 11 minutes and 17 seconds, RSG PH triumphed over Echo with a commanding score of 17-3.
This historic win marked RSG PH’s maiden MPLI victory, breaking the previous dominance of MPL ID in the competition after over three years. They will take home the grand prize of USD 37,000.
Adding to the accolades, Demonkite was crowned grand finals MVP, clinching a USD 1,000 prize. Seeing how good he did throughout MPLI 2023, there is a big possibility that he will become a linchpin for the team in the upcoming season.
