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MPL Season 9: Omega sends Blacklist out of playoff contention in sweep

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="MPL Philippines" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/04/09/mpl-04092022.jpg"/><figcaption>Courtesy: MPL Philippines</figcaption></figure></div><h3>Omega Esports, Nexplay EVOS secure last 2 playoff spots</h3>MANILA (UPDATED) - Blacklist International failed in their bid for their third straight Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) title after being swept by Omega Esports, 2-0 in a must-win regular season match, Saturday. Coming off a world championship campaign and back-to-back titles in Season 7 and Season 8, Blacklist will end the season at 7th place with a 3-11 win-loss record. Omega Esports and Nexplay EVOS will be completing the playoff teams for Season 9 as a result, as Blacklist&#x27;s points are not enough to secure 6th place in the league standings. Pick-offs on Blacklist&#x27;s Kiel &quot;OHEB&quot; Soriano and Kent Xavier &quot;Kevier&quot; Lopez in the 17th minute allowed Omega Esports to come from behind and penetrate the Codebreakers&#x27; base in Game 1, drawing the game point that would secure them the playoff seat. Joshua &quot;Ch4knu&quot; Mangilog, whose Lolita set-up the crucial &quot;Nouminon Blast&quot; and disrupted Blacklist in a team fight leading to the crucial pick-offs emerged as the MVP in Game 1 with a 2/1/9 kill-death-assist (KDA) card. Blacklist took control of the early stages of Game 2, with Edward &quot;EDWARD&quot; Jay Dapadap clearing minion waves, and helping his teammates apply pressure on the map using his Benedetta. But as the game dragged on, Omega&#x27;s players started scaling up, with Patrick &quot;E2MAX&quot; Caidic&#x27;s Xavier dealing heavy damage from the bushes to disrupt Blacklist. Blacklist captain Salic &quot;Hadji&quot; Imam&#x27;s Yve converted base defenses into counter-initiations, to keep the Codebreakers alive and prolong the series. But Ch4knu&#x27;s pick-off on him, followed by a double kill by E2MAX helped Omega boot Blacklist off playoff contention. E2MAX emerged the MVP in Game 2 behind a 7/4/6 KDA. After helping steer Blacklist to back-to-back local titles and the M3 world championship in 2021, Johnmar &quot;OhMyV33nus&quot; Villaluna and Danerie James &quot;Wise&quot; Del Rosario sat out Season 9 to rest and focus on the upcoming SEA Games this May. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/09/22/blacklist-duo-v33wise-to-skip-mpl-season-9">Mobile Legends: Blacklist duo V33wise to skip MPL Season 9</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/19/21/blacklist-reigns-in-all-pinoy-ml-world-title-showdown">Mobile Legends: Blacklist/Onic PH reigns in all-Pinoy ML world title showdown</a></li></ul>This left Blacklist&#x27;s three-peat bid in the hands of M3 MVP Kiel &quot;OHEB&quot; Soriano, Season 7 and 8 MVPs Edward &quot;EDWARD&quot; Jay Dapadap and Salic &quot;Hadji&quot; Imam, veterans Mark Jayson &quot;ESON&quot; Gerardo and Dexter &quot;DEX STAR&quot; Alaba, and rookie Kent Xavier &quot;Kevier&quot; Lopez, who filled in for Wise in the jungler role. Towards the start of Season 9, Blacklist went winless for four straight games, ending their losing skid with a 2-0 win against Bren Esports. Citing inevitable struggles in building chemistry among his wards, head coach Kristoffer &quot;Bon Chan&quot; Ricaplaza urged fans to wait for two weeks to expect better results. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/20/22/bon-chan-says-blacklists-early-mpl-s9-woes-expected">Bon Chan says Blacklist&#x27;s early MPL S9 woes expected: &#x27;Give us 1-2 weeks&#x27;</a></li></ul>But their woes piled on, capping off their Season 9 run with a dismal sweep by rivals Omega. With the results, RSG Philippines, Echo Philippines, TNC Pro Team, Onic PH, Omega Esports, and Nexplay EVOS complete Season 9&#x27;s playoff teams. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/22/22/mobile-legends-mpl-philippines-bares-new-rules-for-season-9">Mobile Legends: MPL-Philippines reveals new rules for Season 9</a></li></ul>

Blacklist International failed their bid for a three-peat in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League after sinking out of playoff contention in Season 9. 