The 2023 MPL Philippines season was the sixth year of professional Esports competitions for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League of the Philippines (referred to as: MPL Philippines). The 2023 season features two seasonal splits: MPL Philippines Season 11 and MPL Philippines Season 12. It was during this year that the inaugural Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Development League was introduced to the Philippines with MDL Philippines Season 1 occurring as the preceding event prior to MPL Philippines Season 11.
MPL Philippines Season 11 was the first season for the year 2023 and was the first professional season for the league after the MLBB M4 World Championships. Defending champions Blacklist International were beaten by the M4 World Champions ECHO Philippines during the Season 11 Grand Finals and was the first sweep by a team in the Finals since Season 1 between Aether Main and Digital Devils Pro Team.[1][2] ECHO and Blacklist would qualify as the two teams of the Philippines to the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup (MSC 2023) in Cambodia.[3] Blacklist International would boast the best performance by a Filipino team in the aforementioned competition as the team loss 4–2 to Indonesian team ONIC Esports with two Filipino imports in Kairi Rayosdelsol and Yeb Miranda.[4] ECHO Philippines finished in third place, defeating home-team BURN x FLASH, 3–2.[5]
MPL Philippines Season 12 began in September 2023, 4 months after the Grand Finals match of MPL Philippines Season 11. Season 12 was the qualifying tournament for the Philippines to the MLBB M5 World Championships that will be played on home soil.[6] Defending world champions and MPL champions ECHO Philippines failed to defend their world title and MPL title after losing to Blacklist International, who has included the services of Renejay "Renejay" Barcase to the roster, 3–1 in the Lower Bracket Finals to qualify for M5.[7] Blacklist International is the only team in the Philippines to qualify for three-consecutive world championship series, appearing since the M3 World Championship which the team won.[8]AP Bren would defeat Blacklist International in the Grand Finals 4–1 to give the organization its second MPL title.[9] Furthermore, AP Bren would win the M5 World Championships on home soil as they defeat Indonesia's ONIC Esports 4–3 in the Grand Finals, making them the only organization thus far to win two world championships.[10]
During the 2023 season, Filipino teams have won one M-World Series titles and one MPLI Invitational titles with RSG Philippines defeating ECHO in an all-Filipino Grand Finals.[11]
All participating teams will participate in a double round-robin tournament format in the eight-week duration of MPL Philippines Season 11.[12] Every team will play a Bo3 match against each other with a total of fourteen games being played per team. A pointing system will be followed for teams to be properly seeded coming into the playoffs.
If a team wins a series 2–0, the winning team will receive 3 points and the losing team will receive 0 points.
If a team wins a series 2–1, the winning team will receive 2 points and the losing team will receive 1 point.
Standings
Pos
Team
Pld
W
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Bren Esports (Q)
14
11
3
23
9
+14
31
Qualified for the Upper-Bracket Semifinals
2
ECHO Philippines (Q)
14
11
3
23
11
+12
29
3
Blacklist International (Q)
14
8
6
18
14
+4
24
Qualified for the Play-in
4
RSG Slate Philippines (Q)
14
7
7
17
16
+1
22
5
ONIC Philippines (Q)
14
6
8
16
19
−3
19
6
Omega Esports (Q)
14
6
8
15
19
−4
18
7
Nexplay EVOS (E)
14
4
10
13
22
−9
15
Eliminated from Playoff Contention
8
TNC Pro Team (E)
14
3
11
8
23
−15
10
Updated to match(es) played on 14 April 2024. Source: https://ph-mpl.com/ (E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Head-to-head
Home \ Away
APBRN
BLCK
ECHO
NXPE
OMG
ONIC
RSG
TNC
Bren Esports
—
4–0 (2-0, 2-0)
2–3 (2-1, 0-2)
4–1 (2-1, 2-0)
4–1 (2-1, 2-0)
2–2 (2-0, 0-2)
4–0 (2-0, 2-0)
3–2 (2-0, 1-2)
Blacklist International
0–4 (0-2, 0-2)
—
1–4 (0-2, 1-2)
3–2 (1-2, 2-0)
4–0 (2-0, 2-0)
4–2 (2-1, 2-1)
2–2 (2-0, 0-2)
4–0 (2-0, 2-0)
ECHO Philippines
3–2 (2-0, 1-2)
4–1 (2-1, 2-0)
—
4–1 (2-0, 2-1)
4–1 (2-1, 2-0)
4–1 (2-0, 2-1)
2–3 (2-1, 0-2)
2–2 (0-2, 2-0)
NXPE
1–4 (1-2, 0-2)
2–3 (0-2, 2-1)
1–4 (1-2, 0-2)
—
3–2 (2-0, 1-2)
1–4 (0-2, 1-2)
1–4 (1-2, 0-2)
4–1 (2-0, 2-1)
Omega Esports
1–4 (0-2, 1-2)
0–4 (0-2, 0-2)
1–4 (0-2, 1-2)
2–3 (2-1, 0-2)
—
3–3 (2-1, 1-2)
4–1 (2-0, 2-1)
4–0 (2-0, 2-0)
ONIC Philippines
2–2 (2-0, 0-2)
2–4 (1-2, 1-2)
1–4 (1-2, 0-2)
4–1 (2-0, 2-1)
3–3 (2-1, 1-2)
—
2–3 (2-1, 0-2)
2–2 (2-0, 0-2)
RSG Philippines
0–4 (0-2, 0-2)
2–2 (2-0, 0-2)
3–2 (2-0, 1-2)
4–1 (2-0, 2-1)
1–4 (1-2, 0-2)
3–2 (2-0, 1-2)
—
4–1 (2-0, 2-1)
TNC Pro Team
2–3 (2-1, 0-2)
0–4 (0-2, 0-2)
2–2 (0-2, 2-0)
1–4 (0-2, 1-2)
0–4 (0-2, 0-2)
2–2 (2-0, 0-2)
1–4 (1-2, 0-2)
—
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
The head-to-head matches between the eight teams have been accumulated together counting the number of wins each team has won in their face-to-face match. (Bren Esports' 4–0 record over Blacklist International denotes that in the two matches that both teams have faced off against each other, AP Bren has won 4 matches and lost 0 to Blacklist).
Playoff bracket
Play-in Round
Upper Bracket Semifinals
Upper Bracket Finals
Grand Finals
1
Bren Esports
1
3
Blacklist Int.
3
3
Blacklist Int.
3
6
Smart Omega
0
3
Blacklist Int.
3
4
RSG Slate Philippines
1
2
ECHO Philippines
2
4
RSG Slate Philippines
3
3
RSG Slate Philippines
3
5
ONIC Philippines
0
3
Blacklist Int.
0
2
ECHO Philippines
4
Lower Bracket Knockouts
Lower Bracket Finals
4
RSG Slate Philippines
2
1
Bren Esports
1
3
ECHO Philippines
3
3
ECHO Philippines
3
MPL Philippines Season 11 was ECHO Philippines' first MPL title since the team rebranded from SunSparks to AURA Philippines to simply ECHO Philippines. This is also the first season where the defending champions were defeated in their attempt of a back-to-back campaign.[1]
MPL Philippines Season 12 was the succeeding professional season following MSC 2023.[13] Season 12's regular season began on 8 September and concluded with the Grand Finals on 29 October 2023. Similar to Season 11, the top six teams will advance to the playoff bracket and only the Top 2 teams will qualify for the M5 World Championships held in home soil. The Grand Finals was played at the EVM Convention Center in Quezon City.[14]
Roster changes
The same Eight Franchises will be participating in Season 12 with roster changes during the off-season and in-season.
All participating teams will participate in a double round-robin tournament format in the eight-week duration of MPL Philippines Season 11.[12] Every team will play a Bo3 match against each other with a total of fourteen games being played per team. A pointing system will be followed for teams to be properly seeded coming into the playoffs.
If a team wins a series 2–0, the winning team will receive 3 points and the losing team will receive 0 points.
If a team wins a series 2–1, the winning team will receive 2 points and the losing team will receive 1 point.
Pos
Team
Pld
W
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
ECHO Philippines (Q)
14
11
3
23
10
+13
30
Qualified for the Upper-Bracket Semifinals
2
AP Bren (Q)
14
7
7
18
15
+3
24
3
Blacklist International (Q)
14
8
6
17
15
+2
22
Qualified for the Play-in
4
RSG Philippines (Q)
14
7
7
18
17
+1
22
5
ONIC Philippines (Q)
14
7
7
16
16
0
21
6
Omega Esports (Q)
14
7
7
15
17
−2
19
7
Minana EVOS (E)
14
6
8
14
17
−3
19
Eliminated from Playoff Contention
8
TNC Pro Team (E)
14
3
11
9
23
−14
11
Updated to match(es) played on 29 October 2023. Source: https://ph-mpl.com/ (E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Head-to-head
Home \ Away
ECHO
APBRN
BLCK
RSG
ONIC
OMG
EVOS
TNC
ECHO Philippines
—
4–0 (2-0,2-0)
2–3 (2-1,0-2)
2–2 (2-0,0-2)
2–2 (0-2,2-0)
2–3 (0-2,2-1)
4–1 (2-0,2-1)
AP Bren
2–3 (2-1,0-2)
—
1–4 (1-2,0-2)
1–4 (0-2,1-2)
4–0 (2-0,2-0)
2–4 (1-2,1-2)
4–0 (2-0,2-0)
4–0 (2-0,2-0)
Blacklist International
0–4 (0-2,0-2)
4–1 (2-0,2-1)
—
3–2 (1-2,2-0)
2–2 (0-2,2-0)
2–2 (0-2,2-0)
4–1 (2-0,2-1)
2–3 (2-1,0-2)
RSG Philippines
3–2 (2-0,1-2)
4–1 (2-1,2-0)
2–3 (0-2,2-1)
—
3–3 (2-1,1-2)
3–2 (2-0,1-2)
0–4 (0-2,0-2)
3–2 (1-2,2-0)
ONIC Philippines
1–4 (0-2,1-2)
0–4 (0-2,0-2)
2–2 (0-2,2-0)
3–3 (2-1,1-2)
—
4–1 (2-1,2-0)
2–2 (2-0,0-2)
4–0 (2-0,2-0)
Smart Omega
2–2 (2-0,0-2)
4–2 (2-1,2-1)
2–2 (2-0,0-2)
2–3 (0-2,2-1)
1–4 (1-2,0-2)
—
2–2 (0-2,2-0)
4–0 (2-0,2-0)
Minana EVOS
3–2 (2-0,1-2)
0–4 (0-2,0-2)
1–4 (0-2,1-2)
4–0 (2-0,2-0)
2–2 (0-2,2-0)
2–2 (2-0,0-2)
—
2–3 (2-1,0-2)
TNC Pro Team
1–4 (0-2,1-2)
0–4 (0-2,0-2)
3–2 (1-2,2-0)
2–3 (2-1,0-2)
0–4 (0-2,0-2)
0–4 (0-2,0-2)
3–2 (1-2,2-0)
—
Updated to match(es) played on 29 October 2023. Source: [citation needed] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Unlike from previous seasons, the ONE Esports MPLI Invitational has invited only the Top Four teams of MPL Philippines, being AP Bren, Blacklist International, ECHO Philippines and RSG Philippines.[38] Previously, the Top Six teams to qualify for the playoffs also qualified for MPLI. This was the case during MPLI 2022.[39]
Awards
Season 11
Weekly MVP Awards
Week 1 - Frederic "Bennyqt" Gonzales (ECHO)
Week 2 - Marco Stephen "Super Marco" Requitiano (APBRN) (1)
Week 3 - Tristan "YAWI" Cabrera (ECHO)
Week 4 - Natahanel "Nathzz" Estrologo (RSG)
Week 5 - Marco Stephen "Super Marco" Requitiano (APBRN) (2)
