MLBB star Xorn anchors national squad for Asian Games qualifier
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) squad for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games qualifier has been confirmed ahead of the MLBB Professional League Malaysia (MPL MY) Season 17 playoffs next month.
Representing the nation from June 18-21 in Singapore are Ealtond “Loleal” Rayner, Aqif Haikal “Zqeef” Azman, Ammar Asyraf “Martzy” Rahman, Nazhan “Chibi” Mohd Nor, Razif “Sizkaa” Sazali, and Zul Hisham “Xorn” Mohd Noor.
The team will be led by head coach Doly Van Pelo “SaintDeLucaz” Sihotang, assistant coach Nur Hanis Adlan “Haru” Adnan, and analyst Jason “JIFDEGaming” Yap.
“With MLBB making its Asian Games debut, we hope Malaysia can qualify and bring home a medal for the country,” said Malaysia Esports Federation (MESF) president Naim Al-Amin Saharudin.
The announcement underscores how MPL MY has evolved into the country’s principal talent pipeline, with players like Martzy, fresh from a strong MPL MY Season 17 run with Team Rey, now wearing national colours.
The playoffs will be held at Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara from July 3-7.
The six teams heading into the playoffs are Selangor Red Giants (SRG), Invictus Gaming (iG), Team Vamos (VMS), RRQ Tora (RRQ), Team Rey (TR), and Bigetron MY (BTRM).
SRG enter as the team to beat, closing the regular season in dominant fashion and eyeing a historic fifth consecutive MPL MY title, a milestone no team in the league’s history has achieved.
The fiercest challenger for the upset may be BTRM, who were the standout performers of Week Eight despite entering with their playoff place under pressure.
Led by mid laner Danial Fuad, they swept both Team Flash and iG across Days One and Two to stamp their name on the bracket with authority.
AC Esports will not be in the playoffs but made sure to leave a mark, closing out their Season 17 campaign by sweeping RRQ on the final day, led by gold laner Sultan Muhammad’s trademark Clint pick, in what amounted to a farewell statement from a side that narrowly missed the cut.
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المصدر: New Straits Times