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Moonton
Ruby, a standout hero in recent Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournaments, emerged as a surprise choice for Blacklist International, defying convention by deploying her in the Gold Lane, typically reserved for Markman heroes. This bold move unfolded during their clash with Minana EVOS on the second day of the MLBB Professional League Philippines (MPL PH) Season 13, orchestrated by none other than Kiel "OHEB" Soriano, the esteemed Filipino Sniper, who wielded the crimson-clad reaper to execute remarkable plays for his team.
Kristoffer "BON CHAN" Ricaplaza, the iconic coach of Blacklist International, revealed the team's goal in reshaping the meta with unconventional picks, challenging opposing teams to adapt to their innovative gameplay.
Why did OHEB pick Ruby in Gold Lane?
OHEB's daring choice of Ruby for the Gold Lane against Minana EVOS sparked widespread discussion within the MLBB community. It showed how there may be untapped potential for unorthodox lineups to be effective in MLBB, even in professional play.
During a post-match press conference, BON CHAN elaborated on the team's strategic decision-making process, shedding light on why OHEB was entrusted with Ruby in the Gold Lane.
“Although the lineup was a bit weird, we wanna try it, and see how other teams would react if it turns out successful,” he explained.
Moonton
OHEB's Ruby pick proved its worth with one kill and one assist in Game 1, followed by an impressive performance in Game 2, amassing six kills and eight assists.
Although Stephen "Sensui" Castillo's Natan Jungle pick stole the spotlight in both games, OHEB emerged as a formidable threat, causing Minana EVOS to second-guess their strategies.
Despite Blacklist International's setback in the second game, the series concluded with a 2-1 victory, as they rallied to secure a triumphant third round.
BON CHAN went on to speculate about the future implications of their innovative picks, suggesting that if successful, it could pave the way for a paradigm shift in MLBB meta, challenging the notion of the Gold Lane exclusively reserved for Marksmen heroes.
“Who knows, if it’s successful and dominates, we may be seeing Fighter heroes in Gold Lane and the old meta picks making a comeback like the Yi Sun-Shin Jungle or Natan, something like that,” he expressed.
Blacklist International is scheduled to face TNC Pro Team in the second week of the MPL PH Season 13 on 23rd March at 4:00 PM (PHT). It will be interesting to see what other surprises the team has in store in its upcoming matches.
