Cover-Credits:
Blacklist International entered competitive Dota 2 with some of the most reputable names in Southeast Asia (SEA) and has performed tremendously well in the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) SEA 2023 Tour 1: Division I so far. As a result of winning three series in a row, the team sits comfortably at the top of the table in a league flooded with top teams. Following Blacklist's recent victory over Talon Esports, position five player Nico "eyyou" Barcelon explained how the five players came together. The plans to build this roster had been in the works for months with Carlo "Kuku" Palad as they looked for all five players hailing from the Philippines in order for the communication to be more effective.
Blacklist International arose from the urge for an all-Filipino squad, says eyyou
Captain eyyou arrived for the post-match winner's interview following Blacklist's 2-1 victory over Talon in a close series. All five players on the squad did not play together in the previous season but were together during different periods in the past. As such eyyou was asked how the players reconnected.
Aside from the desire for an all-Filipino roster, there were other reasons for the emergence of Blacklist, eyyou said.
“I guess every one of us wants to build a Filipino team because there’s no Filipino [team] in the recent TI and it’s comfortable for us to speak our native language. I guess that’s one of the main reasons and we know everyone and there’s no toxicity inside the team.”
Also during the interview, eyyou was asked if he had considered continuing on with Polaris Esports, which last season also had an all-Filipino roster.
According to the player, after his team's loss in The International 11's (TI11) last chance qualifier in October, the players on Polaris went their separate ways. So after Kuku also got eliminated from the qualifier, the two decided to work together for the DPC 2023 season.
“I am not sure. We didn’t talk about it that much. I guess after LCQ (last chance qualifier) we were trying to form a team already because me and Kuku didn’t qualify for the main TI right? We just played at LCQ and after that time, we were talking about forming a team.”
Eyyou and Kuku had previously played for TNC in 2019 and 2016. Their performance at TI6 is particularly notable since they defeated tournament favorites OG 2-0 and eliminated them from the contest. Kuku's Huskar gameplay in the second game has been lauded as a career high point.
With help from some of the finest and most experienced players in the region, they will be seeking to have a good season and live up to the expectations of their star-studded status. On 20th Jan 2023, Blacklist will play its next series in the DPC 2023 against Execration, a team that has so far surprised many by winning three series in a row by 2-0 margins.
