Blacklist International came close to greatness on the Honor of King’s Championship 2024finished sixth overall, exceeding expectations.
A household name in Philippine esports, the organization rose to fame when they won multiple MPL championships Mobile Legends: Bang Bangincluding one M World Series title in M3. Now they want to bring their winning formula to the market Honor of Kings (HoK).
But after competing against the best teams from around the world, they realized that teams from the Philippines are still missing key elements that could unlock their potential and help them dominate future tournaments.
Credit: TiMi Studio Group, Level Infinite
Despite only being together for six months, HoK Blacklist stormed through the group stage and finished second in Group A, just behind Indonesian team Dominator Esports.
They even pulled off an upset 3-2 win over Malaysian stalwarts and Honor of Kings Invitational Season 2 runners-up Team Secret in the first round of the upper bracket.
Their momentum stalled after a crushing 3-0 defeat to eventual grand finalist Dominator Esports in the upper category semi-finals, followed by another devastating 3-0 win against Malaysian powerhouse Nova Esports in the lower category.
Blacklist’s message is clear: the Philippines has talent, but talent alone is not enough.
Blacklist International says PH teams need experience and knowledge of the game to compete at the highest level
Credit: TiMi Studio Group, Level Infinite
The hardest lesson Blacklist International learned was the importance of tournament experience. Competing in a LAN tournament for the first time, they had to adapt to the pressure and intensity that comes with playing on stage.
“This was our first LAN tournament. It’s a whole new experience, and we were still adjusting,” said mid laner Aaron “Aaron” Bingay.
The team recognized that while teams like Black Shrew Esports and Nova had the skills, they had a critical edge: they had been competing against each other for years. That wealth of experience makes all the difference when the stakes are high.
“We have only been playing HoK for six months. The top teams have years of experience. That is a huge advantage,” coach Gerald “Tgee” Gelacio admitted.
While Filipino players are skilled, game knowledge and strategy remain an area for growth. Jungler Justine “Juschie” Tan pointed out that experienced teams outperformed them with better tactics. “We showed everything we’ve learned so far, but the other teams just knew more. They have had years to master the game. We are still catching up,” he said.
Blacklist emphasized that playing smarter, not just harder, is crucial for PH teams. Filipino players must study top-level teams, compete against stronger opponents, and improve their drafting and macro play to compete at the highest level.
Blacklist International hopes more local tournaments will increase competition
Credit: TiMi Studio Group, Level Infinite
According to Coach Tgee, the Philippines needs a stronger local competitive landscape to keep up with the best teams. “Maybe it would help us a lot if there were more tournaments in the Philippines. All pro teams would improve,” he said.
He added that more tournaments will help players stay in top condition and develop the mental toughness needed to handle high-stakes games.
Despite their limited experience, Blacklist International’s performance at the 2024 Honor of Kings Championship indicates that the Philippines has the potential to rise to the top.
The team’s farmer, Golden “Goldenk1te” Dajao, believes that hard work and continuous learning will be the key to future success. “I think we need to grind more. For the next tournaments, we need to gain more knowledge about the game,” Goldenk1te said.
With more experience, game sense and a well-developed competitive scene, we could see the Philippines closing the gap with regional powerhouse Malaysia in the coming year.
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