E-sports

Double the Action: Here’s What You Need to Know as the MDL and MWI Head to Playoffs

By Ramon Domingo - May 09, 2024
One is crowned the amateur league champions and one gets the chance to represent the Philippines on the global stage.

The playoffs for the MLBB Development League (MDL) Philippines Season 3 and the Road to MLBB Women’s Invitational (MWI) are right around the corner. Two important tournaments will reach their epic conclusion this May 10-12 playing live at the Shooting Gallery Studio.

Both the MDL and MWI playoffs will follow the same format: each match will be best-of-three, single-elimination, except for the grand finals which will be a best-of-five. This means that teams can’t afford any mistakes as they only have one shot for glory.

For the MDL it’s all about whether RRQ Kaito can complete their dominant redemption run.

After bottoming out at ninth place last season, the team rebuilt itself with EXP Laner Ferdz at the center. Now they’re at the top of the food chain, finishing the regular season with an undefeated 9-0 match record. Can RRQ take this momentum all the way and make a clean sweep of the season? 

It’s Double the Action as the MDL and MWI Head to Playoffs
(Photo credit: MDL Philippines)

Only ECHO Proud, ONIC Arsenals, and AP.Bren XIA were able to make a dent against RRQ. Unfortunately, AP.Bren is out of the playoffs and ECHO and ONIC are facing each other down in the quarterfinals. Of the remaining squads, Blacklist Academy looks to have the best shot after ending the regular season with a four game win streak.

Time will tell if that hot streak will be enough to stop RRQ.

Fighting for Filipina Pride

Meanwhile, next to the MDL playoffs is the Road to MWI finals. Four teams enter but only one will earn the right to represent the Philippines in MWI 2024, held at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, later this July.

It’s Double the Action as the MDL and MWI Head to Playoffs
Omega Empress representing Team SIBOL. From left to right: Gwyneth “Ayanami” Diagon, Kaye “Keishi” Alpuerto, Alexandria “Lexaa” Dardo, coach Abraham “Bam” Unida, Sheen “Shinoa” Perez, Merry “Meraaay” Vivero, and Rica “Amoree” Amores. (Photo by Keith Niño Medrano/MOONTON Games)

Competing for this right are Omega Empress, TNCZ4 FE, ONIC Zol, and Super Monching. Of the four, Omega is coming in as the absolute favorite as they are the SIBOL women’s MLBB team that won silver in the 2023 SEA Games. Can the other three pull an upset?

We’ll find out in the playoffs.

You can catch the MDL and Road to MWI playoffs live on the MPL Philippines Facebook page.

Banner photo from MOONTON Games.


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