PUTRAJAYA: Selangor Red Giants (SRG) have one more chance left to win the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) M6 World Championship following their 2-0 defeat to Fnatic Onic Philippines (FNOP) in the knockout stage first round today (Dec 7).
In the Swiss stage, SRG lost to Turkiye's S2G and Myanmar's Falcon Esports before rebounding with three wins to qualify for the knockout round.
Philippine champions FNOP, who advanced to the knockout stage with a flawless 3-0 record, overwhelmed the Mid Season Cup winners with their relentless aggression, leaving SRG with no answers.
SRG coach Poon "OzoraVeki" Kok Sing said his players tried to match FNOP's pace, but costly mistakes sealed their fate.
"Game One was close, and there were moments where we could have taken it. In Game Two, we tried to match FNOP's pace.
"But big blunders during the tussle for the second turtle cost us dearly. They capitalised on our mistakes.
"Our hero composition was tailored for an early-game strategy, but after that mistake, there was no coming back," Kok Sing told the media in a post-match interview at the IOI Grand Exhibition and Convention Centre in Putrajaya today (Dec 7).
FNOP coach Anthony "Ynot" Senedrin credited their victory to consistent aggression and flawless execution.
"Seeing my players execute what we work on daily makes me proud as a coach," said Anthony.
"We just maintained our aggression and ensured we were consistent with the plays we made."
FNOP progress to the second round of the upper bracket, where they will face Falcon, who defeated NIP Flash from Singapore 2-0 earlier in the day.
Despite this defeat, SRG are still alive in the World Championship but drop to the lower bracket, where they will face NIP in a do-or-die clash to remain in contention for the world crown.