In a surprising reverse sweep, Gamerpact Esports won the championship at the realme Mobile Legends Cup (RMC) Season 8, humbling early favorite Minerva Esports in three out of four games, on Saturday, July 20, in Makati City, 3-1.
Game 1 saw Minerva drawing first blood, obliterating Gamerpact with MVP Leix’s Julian (kill/death/assist of 10/0/0) and Gelo’s Zhuzin, with the latter unusually played as an offensive frontliner, 19-8.
“Since Best of 5 series at mahaba, parang warm lang po ‘yung Game [1] para makita namin heroes ng kalaban, then Game 1, pagkatapos n’yon, nag-usap-usap na po kami pa’no kami mag-a-adjust,” Gamerpact’s jungler Aezu told PhilSTAR Tech.
Gamerpact then took Game 2, ganging up on Minerva’s lone survivor Gelo’s Zhuzin to reset the game, 16-7. The game’s MVP and Gamerpact’s mid laner Starboy dominated the game with two kills, zero deaths, and 10 assists using Pharsa. With both teams winning the previous matches, the supposed Best of 5 series turned into Best of 3.
In Game 3, Gamerpact kept the winning momentum going, with MVP Aezu’s X.Borg recording a KDA of 7/0/7, 17-5.
In Game 4, Minerva had a lead at 8 minutes on the clock (4-8) but Gamerpact turned things around at 12:38 (8-9). “Normal ‘yung kabahan kasi nakakabawi sila eh, pero kampante pa rin kami sa mga heroes namin saka alam namin na winnable ‘yung draft team namin,” Aezu recalled.
Gamerpact then secured the championship as four members laser-focused on Minerva’s last turret, ignoring Leix’s futile attacks, 12-10. This deciding game’s MVP, Teddyqt recorded a KDA of 5/2/0, playing Moscow on the gold lane.
As RMC Season 8 grand champion, Gamerpact Esports won a P500,000 cash and a trophy. Aezu, meanwhile, was named this season’s MVP and received P100,000 worth of realme devices.
Asked what made them win this season, Aezu said, “Sa hard work ng buong team, halos wala kaming pahinga para mag-practice, 10-12 hours a day. Dagdag po ‘yung coach namin na former MPL coach po [Former Minana EVOS coach Bitoy Casten].
Meanwhile, 1st runner-up Minerva Esports received P200,000, while second runner-up IRE Esports and 3rd runner-up Gamerpact Ascend both received P50,000.
The RMC Season 8 Grand Finals also featured a show match between Mobile Legends: Bang Bang world champion Falcons AP.Bren and Team All-Stars, which composed of Aurora’s Wise, Blacklist International’s OHEB, former TNC Pro playing coach Benthings, and Omega Esports’ H2wo and Ch4knu.
But in a major twist, Wise was exchanged with Falcons AP. Bren’s Pando, and the Team All-Stars was given a one-minute headstart as part of the “power-up” advantages introduced in the exhibition game. The Team All-Stars defeated Falcons AP.Bren, 23-5.
