SWEEP VICTORY. Blacklist International captain Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna huddles with his team before the start of a game during the grand finals of the MPL PH Season 11 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on May 7, 2023. Blacklist absorbed a 0-4 loss to Echo. (Photo courtesy of MPL PH)
MANILA – Blacklist International has clarified that there was no intention to snub reporters present at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay during the Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 11 Finals on Sunday night.
This was after some sportswriters expressed disappointment on social media that the quintet of Johnmar Villaluna, Danerie del Rosario, Lee Gonzales, Kenneth Tadeo, and Edward Dapadap did not show up at all at the post-match press conference following its 0-4 loss to Echo in the national finals.
According to the team management, they decided to beg off from the customary presser as they thought the portion for eventual national champion Echo was taking so long.
"Due to the winner's interview session running longer than anticipated, our coaching staff and management made the decision to inform the league that we would forego this interview in order to allow our players to take their rest and dinner earlier," Blacklist said in a statement Monday night.
As part of the protocols set for the post-game pressers during the entire MPL PH Playoffs at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay, the winning team was brought to the media room first before the opposing side.
However, Echo's press conference was delayed for a few minutes as the team was asked to do photo ops.
Blacklist clarified that it was the team management's decision and the players were willing to join the press conference.
Before the championship series started, Dapadap met the press regarding his induction to the Hall of Legends.
"(The decision) was made with our team's fatigue, hunger, and overall well-being in mind," Blacklist said.
The rants of the sportswriters led to hot online discussions overnight.
Blacklist acknowledged that the team had a shortcoming during the incident.
"We do recognize that as an organization, we need to do better by our media partners and friends. They are an important part of the esports ecosystem and we appreciate them helping us tell the story of our players and teams. We will ensure that there will be ample opportunities for interviews moving forward, whether we win or lose," the statement read.
Blacklist came close to putting a happily-ever-after ending to its Cinderella run during the MPL PH Playoffs.
Despite some forecasts that the team would be knocked out early on, Blacklist defied the odds – and even a ruling from Moonton to bar all the playoff teams from using Diggie due to a visual bug – to eliminate Smart Omega in the first round on Thursday.
Blacklist then stunned top-seeded Bren Esports in the upper bracket semis on Friday and booked the first seat in the grand finals after beating RSG Slate Philippines in the upper bracket finals.
However, in a repeat of its domination in the M4 World Championship finals, Echo swept Blacklist in the best-of-seven series to add the MPL PH title to its haul this year. (PNA)
