After a heated Day 1 of MPL PH Season 8 Playoffs, we head into a Day 2 without eliminations, but two massive series.
Yesterday we unfortunately saw both RSG PH and Echo have their MPL PH Season 8 runs come to an abrupt end, as they were eliminated by Nexplay EVOS and Smart Omega Esports respectively. While it was sad to see them go, we would have to move on to Day 2, with only four teams remains and two huge series which would decide who would have to fight though the lower bracket.
Nexplay EVOS versus 
ONIC Philippines
Having an extra day break, after finishing as the second seed from the Regular Season, it was time to see Onic PH in action once again, this time in the MPL PH Season 8 Playoffs. For this matchup, they would be facing NXPE, who had shown some brilliance in both the Regular Season and their opening series yesterday. Unfortunately for NXPE, they are currently without a single victory over Onic this season, losing both previous series 0-2. As we went into the series, we instantly got more flashbacks of this as Onic swept through the first two games with ease.
While there were some signs of life from NXPE, Onic were able to shutdown H2Wo at all points, giving themselves a solid lead in the best-of-five. NXPE were hoping to start their comeback in Game 3, but a Kairi Ling was far too much for them to handle, as Onic never once lost control, securing a clean 3-0 sweep to move into the upper bracket finals.
Blacklist International versus 
Smart Omega Esports
The hype for this series would be immeasurable but has been something building since the Season 7 grand finals. When Blacklist were able to secure the championship, we were not prepared for the two Philippine’s giants to meet again in another amazing series at MSC 2021, this time with Omega taking the win. While this is not the grand finals, a best-of-five was set to be just as amazing between these two juggernauts. Right off the start we had some fantastic picks for both teams – Ch4knu on the Grock, while a double-markmen lineup from Blacklist was grabbed. Omega had been doing their best to put pressure on the early game lately, but their opponents had other ideas in mind. The longer the game went, the better it was for the champions, and in one swift move, they claimed the win.
As expected with this series, it would never be one sided, as Omega took an epic game 2, with Raizen and Kelra both taking brilliant triple kills, as Blacklist were unable to keep up in the team fights. Game three saw Omega take a page out of Blacklist’s book, grabbing the Aldous for Kelra, and it proved to work perfectly for them. While Blacklist had the early edge, one teamfight at Lord turned the tables, as Omega took the lead in the series.
On series point, Omega went, once again, with a Lancelot for Raizen, who had been showing promise on it throughout the series. While, again, Blacklist had the early game, Omega were able to completely punish their opponents as they went in for an attempted Lord steal. With three kills, Omega did what they did in the previous game once more, walked down the lane and ended the game, this time securing a 3-1 victory.
With that, Day 2 of the MPL PH Season 8 Playoffs comes to a close, with Smart Omega Esports and Onic PH being the two victorious teams set to battle in the upper bracket finals tomorrow – from which the first grand finalist will be decided. For the reigning champions, Blacklist International and Nexplay EVOS, it will take an elimination series tomorrow to decide who will keep their tournament lives and stand a chance to challenge for the championship on Sunday.
