AP Bren defeats ONIC Esports in MLBB & laser tag events of Games of the Future 2024

Whether it be the Land of Dawn or in Laser Tag, current Mobile Legends: Bang Bang world champions AP Bren continued their dominance over ONIC Esports at the Phygital MOBA – MLBB tournament of the Games of the Future competition in Kazan, Russia last March 2nd.

The Philippines-based squad composed of head coach Francis “Ducky” Glindro and their newest addition, assistant coach Robert “Trebor” Sanchez, team captain and midlaner Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel, jungler Michael Angelo “KyleTzy” Sayson, gold laner Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano, roamer Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo, and exp laners David “FlapTzy” Canon and Vincent “Pando” Unigo won the lion’s share – US$350,000 – of the US$1 million prize pool of the said tournament.

Coach Denver “Yeb” Miranda and team captain/exp laner Muhammad “Butss” Sanubari led the ONIC Esports squad, composed of star jungler Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol, midlaner Gilang “Sanz”, gold laner Calvin “CW” Winata, roamer Nicky “Kiboy” Fernando Pontonuwu,  and flex Albert “Alberttt” Iskandar.

In the main grand final, APBR won in a dominant 3-1 fashion against ONIC in what looked like a rematch of their M5 World Championship finals match last November in Manila.

AP Bren’s main key to victory was somewhat similar to their M5 playbook, controlling Kairi’s jungle skills proved to be the deciding factor in what again was a bruising fight between both squads.

The Bees took the first two rounds, but ONIC Indonesia shut down AP Bren in Round 3, thanks to Sanz, Alberttt and Nicky’s triple-combo of offense, crowd control, and damage output.

AP Bren rebounded in the fourth and final game wherein Super Marco’s Beatrix pick was able to counter Alberttt’s Wanwan, giving the dude his MVP-making moment.

However, this wasn’t just the only game AP Bren won over ONIC Indonesia.

In line with the tournament’s “Phygital” or physical and digital theme – the two squads literally fought each other in a different “bang-bang” – this time, through Laser Tag.

In an 8-round melee showmatch of laser tag action, AP Bren defeated ONIC Indonesia, 6-2. In this format, the first team to score 6 points in less than 11 rounds wins the game. Teams are grouped just like in FPS games, wherein one attacks with a bomb as an objective, and the other one defends.

Just like in their MLBB grand final – AP Bren took the first two rounds by outmaneuvering their opponents in the said laser tag match, before ONIC bounced back in the third round. 

AP Bren cruise-controlled rounds 4, 5 and 6 before ONIC won round 7 of the said laser tag match. AP.Bren then went on to win the final.

Super Marco went on to be Bren’s MVP for the said showmatch, with a 9-2 kill-death record. Alberttt, meanwhile, also scored 9 kills for the Indonesian Sonics.

The Games of the Future 2024 is a hybrid esports and physical sports tournament backed by the Russian government and companies.