Mobile Legends SEA Cup 2022: RSG Philippines sweep RRQ Hoshi 4-0 to claim title
Filipino Mobile Legends juggernauts RSG Philippines have claimed the championship of the Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup 2022 after they soundly swept Indonesia's RRQ Hoshi, 4-0, in the tournament's best-of-seven grand finals on Sunday (19 June).
As the champions of the Mobile Legends Pro League (MPL) Philippines Season 9, RSG PH were one of the favorites to take the MSC title ahead of the tournament.
The Filipino powerhouse quickly lived up to the hype in the Group Stage, as they topped Group B with a perfect 4-0 record to claim their spot in the Playoffs.
RSG PH also started the Playoffs strong, beating Myanmar's Falcon Esports, 2-1, in the first round of the upper bracket before sweeping Malaysia's Orange Esports, 3-0, in the second round.
However, the Filipino squad was then routed by RRQ Hoshi, 3-1, in their first meeting in the upper bracket finals and were knocked down to the lower bracket.
RSG PH then outlasted fellow Filipino team Omega Esports, 3-2, in the lower bracket finals to earn a rematch with RRQ Hoshi in the grand finals.
While this second showdown between RSG PH and RRQ Hoshi ended with the latter avenging their previous loss with a 4-0 sweep, the series was far from easy for the Filipino squad.
The first three games of the finals all lasted at least 25 minutes, with RSG PH having to claw their way back from almost insurmountable odds in one hard-fought slugfest after another.
RSG PH survived a fiery start to the finals by RRQ Hoshi to take a 28-minute comeback victory in game one with a 17-11 kill lead. Game two was a similar story, with the Filipinos securing their second win of the finals after 25 minutes of action and with a 12-11 kill lead.
Game three was the longest game of the finals, ending just under 30 minutes as RSG PH pulled off yet another incredible comeback despite ending the game down 20-21 in kills to take match point.
Three-straight marathon games seemed to have taken their toll on RRQ Hoshi by game four, as they could do little to stop RSG PH's overpowering momentum. The Filipino juggernauts secured the MSC championship by stomping their Indonesian opponents, 12-2, in 16 minutes.
RSG PH gold laner Eman "EMANN" Sangco took the Finals MVP award for his crucial role in taking games three and four of the championship match.
RSG PH's victory in MSC 2022 is made even more incredible by the fact that this young team was formed only last year when Singapore-based RSG announced an expansion into the Philippines in July 2021.
In their debut season at MPL PH Season 8, RSG PH only managed a 5th-6th place finish in the league's regular season. Less than a year after that disappointing start, RSG PH are now the best Mobile Legends team in Southeast Asia.
This also marks the second-straight year that a Filipino team claimed the MSC title after Execration won MSC 2021.
RSG Philippines roster:
Nathanael "Nathzz" Estrologo
Eman "EMANN" Sangco
Arvie "Aqua" Antonio
Dylan "Light" Catipon
Jonard "Demonkite" Caranto
Dexter "Exort" Martinez
Karl "Giee" Barrientos (coach)
For more esports news updates, visit https://yhoo.it/YahooEsportsSEA and check out Yahoo Esports Southeast Asia’s Facebook page and Twitter, as well as our Gaming channel on YouTube.
