Aero eSports stun Vamos to advance in MPL MY playoffs
KUALA LUMPUR: Aero eSports turned the tables on last season's runners-up Team Vamos with an emphatic 3-1 win in the play-in stage of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Professional League Malaysia (MPL MY) playoffs on Saturday.
Playing at Juara Stadium, Aero stormed to a 2-0 lead, wobbled slightly as Vamos pulled one back, but closed out the best-of-five series in the fourth game.
The victory seals Aero's place in the upper bracket semi-finals, where they will meet back-to-back champions Selangor Red Giants (SRG. OG) on Sunday.
Just last week, Vamos had edged Aero 2-1 in the regular season to clinch their playoff spot.
But crucially, Aero were missing their first-choice jungler Praba "Hazle" Balakosa, 18, who had returned to Indonesia to attend his high school graduation.
"We were unprepared against Vamos in the regular season," said Aero coach Abraham "Bam" Unida.
"His replacement, Alang Indra 'Rannqt' Roshid, didn't have enough time to build chemistry with the team before that match.
"Hazle made all the difference today. I'm proud of him. He played brilliantly and helped our mid-laner control the game's tempo."
Aero, notably, remain the only team to have taken a game off SRG. OG in the regular season, in a tight 2-1 loss.
Despite facing the reigning champions next, Unida is not planning any drastic shake-ups.
"We'll stick with the same hero draft and play to our strengths," said the Filipino tactician.
"We just need to cut down on our mistakes and make smarter decisions in-game."
Joining Aero in the upper bracket semis are DX Soul, who looked clinical in their 3-0 sweep of Monster Vicious.
They will take on second seeds Homebois in the other semi-final.
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