MSC 2023 is just around the corner, and we are ranking the teams in each group for the initial stage, with Group C next on our list.
Only 9 days remain until the Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup 2023 kicks off from the Aeon Mall Mean Chey in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Having already looked at Group A and B, next up on the list is Group C, where we find a rather interesting mix of qualifiers. At a glance, there is one team which stands out above the rest but looks can be deceiving, especially when it comes to Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
Group C
ONIC Esports
BURN x FLASH
Outplay
Group C has one of the highest potentials for upsets, with two SEA rosters and the North American qualifiers already fighting to reach the next round. While ONIC is likely to sweep things during the Group Stage, the smallest mistake will allow the other teams a chance to pounce – and they will definitely not hold back.
ONIC Esports
The Yellow Porcupines have constantly been one of the best teams in Indonesia, with their more recent regional Mobile Legends Professional League challengers being Rex Regum Qeon. The most recent season saw them claim an emphatic victory over EVOS Legends, as they look to return to the pinnacle of MSC – something they have not been able to do since 2019. As the only team in the 2023 iteration of the event with a previous winner, 
Adriand Larsen “Drian” Wong, ONIC’s run could prove brutal to anyone who stands in their way.
One of the main aspects of ONIC’s recent domination has definitely been the inclusion of someone who is quite possibly the best jungle player in the MLBB scene, 
Kairi “Kairi” Ygnacio Rayosdelsol. Although they can sometimes struggle on the international stage, ONIC’s brand of play keeps them one step ahead of most – which is why they should have no problem dealing with their Group C opponents.
BURN x FLASH
With a home-ground advantage, anything is possible, with fans constantly there to bolster their favourite team with their chanting. This is one of the main reasons for Burn’s high chance of causing upsets in this group. However, it certainly is not their only claim to fame, with a team which can match most with their play style.
While they may not always find their footing in international events, Burn’s passion shines through some of their players, with Mariusz “Donut” Tanbeing an epic gold lane player. Unfortunately, this group is possibly just a little too much for this team, even with the home support behind them.
OutPlay
Although this will be the first time we see a North American team in MSC, OP is far from unknown, with some of the players have made a name for themselves at both the M3 and M4 World Championships. Previously having played under both BloodThirsty Kings and The Valley, players such as 
Oscar “Shark” Vo and 
Jang “Hoon” Seong-hun can count themselves lucky to be featured in this year’s event after it was BTK who had qualified initially – but could not field their team in time and thus were forced to give up their spot.
With that said, from what we have seen from OP during the qualifiers, they have a patented brand of all-out aggression, and the ability to push their opponents back into a wall. This is how they managed to give us a fantastic grand final during the qualifiers, and it could be how they dominate Group C too – which puts them in second place for us.
While Group C seems set in stone on paper, MLBB is never something that is easy to predict, with teams often pulling out the craziest upsets and bringing out the best strategies. All will be revealed in a little over a week when the Group Stage of MSC 2023 kicks off.
