BLACKLIST INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCE MPL, MDL ROSTERS

Three-time MPL-PH Champions and M3 MLBB World Champions Blacklist International took a giant leap as they announced their new lineup for the upcoming season.

The new roster will be suiting up in the black and white for the MPL Philippines’ Season 12. The squad consists of the following players:

• Edward Jay “Edward” Dapadap
• Kiel “Oheb” Soriano
• Salic “Hadji” Imam
• Renejay “Renejay” Barcarse
• Lee Howard “Owl” Gonzales
• Russel “Eyon” Usi
• Kenneth Carl “Yue” Tadeo
• Ian Jakob “Rindo” Seguiran
• Stephen “Sensui” Castillo
• Kim “Kimpoy Ughhh” Dela Cruz

Notably absent are the royal duo, Jonmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” del Rosario. According to another announcement by the org, they will be taking time off from the competitive scene to focus on other endeavors such as streaming and other personal matters. This contrasts to their ‘rest’ period back in Season 9, wherein although they did not play in the MPL that season, they still focused on competing at the 31st Southeast Asian Games.

At the helm of the squad for the next season are MV3, Blacklist’s young guns who have grown to carry the team with their exceptional skills and mechanical prowess. Exp Laner and Hall of Legend inductee Edward are joined by Gold Laner Oheb, who makes his return to the main squad after a season in the MDL, and Mid Laner Hadji, who is also making a comeback after a season of rest. All eyes are on them as they lead the squad.

Joining them are sophomore players Owl and Yue, who made waves in their S11 debut and performed beyond expectations in their first international stage at MSC. Owl, who had experience playing with some of the Blacklist players in their SEA Games run, was called up from their MDL squad midway through the season, and helped bring Blacklist to the playoffs. 

Exp laner Renejay also continues his run with Blacklist in his second season with the team, after not seeing much play in Season 11. This time around, he’s been listed as the team’s Roamer and Co-captain, suggesting a bigger role for the MLBB superstar. Also listed in the lineup is Midlaner Eyon, who started off in MDL with Blacklist Academy.

Rounding out the squad are two newcomers to the Blacklist ecosystem—Sensui and Kimpoy. The former is a  jungler from Onic PH in his third season in the league, whose playstyle has been compared and contrasted to his predecessor. The latter, a fresh talent straight from the amateur leagues, scouted by the org’s coaching staff, believed to have great potential.

Speaking of coaching staff, the org is also shaking things up in that department. Continuing to steer the ship is head coach Aniel “MasterTheBasics” Jiandani, with assistant coach Dexter Louise “Dex Star” Alaba and returning Bon “Bon Chan” Ricaplaza, who will now take a step back as a second assistant coach. They also bring in former Overwatch pro player Justin “Calad” Limbo as their new analyst.

The team is looking to bounce back and return to their winning ways after a string of 2nd-place finishes at the M4 World Championships, MPL-PH Season 11, and the MLBB Southeast Asia Cup. With their battlecry being a call to return to their roots and go back to what helped them win, the agents are aiming to go #BackToOne.

The Tier One-backed organization also announced their roster for the upcoming MDL-PH Season 2, the league’s development arm where newer players can showcase their skill. Earlier in the week, they announced their partnership with Lunatix PH, whose mother company is rooted in Malaysia. 

• Avrian “Vri X” Villorente
• Eduard “larvs” Baylen
• John David “JD” Osorio
• Rhonald “Bullet” Bacolod
• Asi “Asi” Rodriguez
• Kyle “Dominic.” Soto
• Ian Jakob “Rindo” Seguiran
• Kent “Kevier” Lopez

Three Blacklist members have been listed as part of the developmental team’s roster, namely Kevier, who last played in MPL Season 9, and Dominic. and Rindo, both being part of the team’s MDL lineup last season as well. Blacklist Academy Lunatix makes their debut on the first day of MDL-PH Season 2 on August 29.

The first game of the MPL on the other hand begins a week later on September 8th. Fans can check out the MPL-PH website on details on how to purchase tickets and watch in the venue to be able to support their favorite teams live.