The MPGL Asian Championship 2018 And What It Means For Execration

M-King

Thursday, July 5, 2018
7:00 pm

| DOTA 2

Just what is exactly on the line for the Filipino Dota 2 staple this time?

Kimo Image © Valve

I was reading Mineski.net’s past articles about Execration before I started to work on this one, and I figured that there is no team in the Philippines, or in Southeast Asia, or even in the whole word, that can come close to what they achieved in MPGL tournaments. It can’t be TNC Pro Team, or even the prime version of Mineski-Dota’s all-Filipino team—it can only be Kimo and his Execration.

A Legacy Established

Here’s the thing: before multi-million dollar esports tournaments came into play, the most important tournament for Filipino players was MET’s MPGL. Its original concept was realized when there were no longer local organizers in the Philippines that wanted the ‘sure win’ squad of the Roro-led Mineski in their tournaments. It’s first version was called Mineski 101, and its goal, according to the father of Philippine esports himself, was to develop the up-and-coming Dota talents together with the powerhouse that is Mineski-Dota.

The local Dota community was dubious at first about Mineski organizing a tournament, especially since they were notoriously known as a dominant Dota squad. But when Roro explained that they were the organizers rather than the players, and that the tournament will be solely for them, the community, with a young Kimo included, started patronizing it. What sprung out was a unity of passionate players helping each other become better.

The establishment of the MPGL in the Philippines served as a stepping stone for Filipino esports players towards achieving a higher level of competence. Seasons after seasons, legs after legs, the tournament was able to produce an army of battle hungry squads that greatly challenged Mineski’s reign. And one of the most battle hungry squads among the pool was Execration.

“Ever since the very first MPGL, Execration has been part of the league. They were called ‘Prime’ back in the day and had a lot of success shared with teams like Pagibig and Happyfeet. Their rebrand to Execration was just the start of their ramp towards what we know them now including their stint in last year’s The International,” Dexter “Zendex” Ancheta, MET’s Head of League Operations, told me when I asked about the legacy of Execration in MPGL tournaments.

Back when I was writing for Mineski.net for the first time as a contributing college student, I was tasked to feature Execration’s return to the MPGL grand finals against Nico “eyyou” Barcelon’s TNC Pro Team at the fourth and final leg of the MPGL 7. It was my first venture into esports, but I was already knowledgeable about them being an established entity—especially after recalling how I got to know them in the first place. Here’s an excerpt of the article:

The story when I first learned who these bad boys are is rather awkward. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t learn from it.

I first came across Execration back in the good ol’ WC3 DotA days of the MPGL, at a time when most of the scene was ruled by Happy Feet, a phenomenal team led by the renowned captain, Wootz. You may have heard of them. Every Pinoy Dota enthusiast that time can testify to this team’s marvelous moves and rhythm which produced a fast-growing base of followers, to which I found myself a part of.

So, being the fanboy of Julz, who back then is popular due to his mid-laning skills, especially on his legendary Shadow Fiend, I found myself regularly watching their games on stream. This particular one was from the second season of the MPGL. They were playing against players tagged under the ‘XctN’ label, from a team I was hardly familiar with at the time.

As the match drew, when my bias seemed to be edging out, I wondered, “Who is this ‘Extinction’ team and how big are their balls to go up against the Happy Feet seemingly unfazed?“

Right then and there, they answered me in the most brutal fashion known to fanboys: Happy Feet succumbed in a brutal loss, something that was almost unthinkable at the time. From then on. Since that day, I never once more dared to forget their right name, who they really are: Execration.

(The article also included a short interview with Kimo and I just realized that he is the first guy I got to interview as a Dota writer. The Philippines’ most fabled captain. I interviewed the Kimo.)

I tried asking around our the old esports dudes in our office if they can remember how many times Execration was awarded as an MPGL champion. Apparently what they heard was something like, “how many strands of hair do I currently have?”, then schooled me how MPGLs used to have multiple legs, and Southeast Asian-wide championships, which I already know, just to clarify. I started researching, while Duane Cadangan, MET’s Head of Logistics, relied on his sharp memory just to satisfy my curiosity.

“I’m not entirely sure, but maybe around six grand championship titles,” he said, heavily stressing how unsure he is. None of us in the office were certain how many times Execration was awarded as an MPGL champion, but all of us were certain that it’s been a lot. Although I failed to get the answer that I wanted, I was able to prove the point that I needed to make—there’s no better duo than Execration and the MPGL.

MPGL Is Back With Execration

The MPGL Asian Championship 2018 grand finals will start tomorrow in Khon Khaen, Thailand with Execration, as always, carrying the Philippine flag against some of the world’s greatest Dota 2 teams such as Southeast Asia’s Clutch Gamers, Indonesia’s EVOS Esports, and China’s Keen Gaming. The last time Kimo led his squad to an international-wide MPGL, which also happened to be the last MPGL prior to this year’s Asian Championship, they made the Meracle-led Mineski-Dota bow.

“The way I see it, there is something that Kimo and Execration’s manager, Arvin Risos, does that they continually discover Filipino talent after talent. Look no further than DJ and Abed who were once under their wing,” Zendex added regarding the same conversation about Execration’s MPGL legacy.

Although Execration will be coming into the league’s grand finals like they usually do, the team was never in its best shape before the MPGL Asian Championship 2018. They failed to attend a single Dota Pro Circuit event, and ultimately lost during The International 2018 Southeast Asian open qualifiers despite representing the Philippines and the entire region for two consecutive years.

It seems that Kimo, with Fernando “Nando” Mendoza, Karl “Karl” Jayme, Earlwin “Ewe” Libre, and Jomari “Grimxz” Anis, are aware of their situation. Execration exhibited a vintage performance during the MPGL Asian Championship 2018 regular season, securing them one of the four spots to the grand finals.

READ: MPGL Asian Championship: Rediscovering The Future Of PH Dota

Kimo and the 2018 version of the Execration squad will be coming in the grand finals with their MPGL not just to defend their MPGL Southeast Asian Championship title. They will be coming into Khon Kaen, Thailand with their legacy on the line. A legacy that was built over years of dominance in the competitive landscape of Philippine Dota.

Follow the MPGL Asian Championship through these links:

MET: facebook.com/organizedbyMET