Day 3 of the MPL PH Season 8 Playoffs would see one team eliminated and another taking the first grand finalist spot.
Yesterday we saw two massive series coming out of MPL PH Playoffs, with Smart Omega Esports and Onic PH taking huge wins over Blacklist International and Nexplay EVOS respectively. For Day 3, we would see another team eliminated, while one team would also secure their spot in tomorrow’s grand finals.
Blacklist International versus 
Nexplay EVOS
Blacklist would be looking to get their playoffs back on track today, after being dismantled and decoded by Smart Omega, and with the return of OHEB after his suspension, the team were at full strength once again. For NXPE, they had already shown that they were not to be underestimated and would be looking to cause a big upset. As we went into the first game, it seemed as though NXPE were in complete control, taking early objectives and finding kills across the map. However, after NXPE secured a Lord at the 11-minute mark, Blacklist were ready to strike, turning the game around in one swift moment, before taking the win.
Game two was fairly slow paced from both teams, as neither wanted to make a mistake that would cost them a win – as we saw a total of only seven kills being claimed in the 18-minute brawl. It was, again, one moment around Lord that secured the game, as Blacklist scattered the NXPE lineup and capitalized on their advantage. With Wise getting his favoured Aldous in game three, NXPE looked distraught, unable to stop him from gaining his stacks, or take any objectives. Although it took 20-minutes, Blacklist programed a new code, keeping themselves alive in the MPL PH Season 8 Playoffs, while NXPE would be eliminated in fourth place.
ONIC Philippines versus 
Smart Omega Esports
With only three teams remaining in the playoffs, it was time to find the first grand finalist, as Smart Omega Esports and Onic PH took to the Land of Dawn in the upper bracket finals. While Onic’s season has been spectacular, Omega were looking to be back to their best, especially after their brilliant victory over Blacklist just yesterday. As we went into the series, both teams seemed evenly matched, with lots of trades going back and forth. However, once the dust settled, Onic were left standing, while Omega’s base fell.
Game two was an absolutely brutal one for Omega, as Onic just controlled objectives and the map perfectly. By 12-minutes, Omega’s base was in ruins as Onic ripped through their opponents with ease to put themselves on series point at 2-0. The third game in the series would see the Raizen Lancelot as well as a Ling for Kairi. The early game period showed signs of Omega finally coming to life, as they rushed through objectives and claimed multiple kills. Unfortunately, a few mistakes would allow Onic a way back into the game.
Onic took this opening and begun to mount their comeback, dismantling any presence Omega had on the map, as they bounced from kill to kill, taking objectives away from their opponents and eventually winning the series with a clean 3-0 sweep.
With that, another day of MPL PH Season 8 Playoffs comes to an end, with Nexplay EVOS being eliminated from the event, while Onic PH become the first grand finalists, as well as securing the first spot for the Philippines at the M3 World Championships. Tomorrow, for the final day, we will see another epic series between Blacklist International and Smart Omega Esports, as both teams attempt to reach the grand finals and aim to take the championship for themselves.
