The Philippines’ quest for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid-Season Cup (MSC) title remains unfulfilled as Falcons AP Bren were defeated by Malaysia’s Selangor Red Giants in the Grand Finals.
Held at Boulevard Riyadh City in Saudi Arabia, the match concluded with a 4-3 victory for SRG.
The Malaysian team, led by Filipino head coach Michael ‘Arcadia’ Bocado and featuring Filipino imports John Vincent ‘Innocent’ Banal and Mark ‘Kramm’ Rusiana, showcased their skill and resilience throughout the series.
Game 1 saw Muhammad Haqqullah ‘Sekys’ Ahmad Shahrul Zaman’s impressive performance with Ling countered by Angelo ‘Pheww’ Arcangel’s Julian backdoor play.
SRG rebounded in Game 2, with Sekys stealing the Lord and eliminating Marco ‘Super Marco’ Requitiano, securing a win by the 13th minute.
Bren denied Sekys his Ling in Game 3, leading to a Bren victory. SRG adapted in Game 4, with Sekys on Fanny, dominating David Charles ‘FlapTzy’ Canon and Angelo Kyle ‘Pheww’ Arcangel, tying the series at 2-2.
Game 5 saw a tight contest, with crucial plays by Muhammad ‘YumS’ Suhairi and John ‘Innocent’ Banal giving SRG a 3-2 lead.
Bren retaliated in Game 6, driven by Super Marco’s stellar performance, pushing the series to a final game.
In the decisive match, Hazziq ‘Stormie’ Rizwan’s Valentina controlled the game, using stolen abilities to disrupt Bren’s strategy. SRG capitalized on Bren’s struggles, securing the championship.
Meanwhile, reflecting on the match, Falcons AP Bren's coach Francis 'Ducky' Glindro noted the challenges his team faced.
“There were several mistakes inside the game that did not pan out our way. I'm really happy with the draft, but there are several things that the team overlooked and SRG played better,” he said during the media presscon.
The Selangor Red Giants’ MSC 2024 victory marks its first in Malaysian esports history.
