Blacklist International has decided to replace its core duo, Abed "Abed" Yusop and Kim "Gabbi" Villafuerte Santos, with stand-ins Mac and Raven for the upcoming PGL Wallachia Season 2 Qualifiers.
The decision to field stand-ins, despite the star-studded lineup, raises concerns about the team’s future, especially in the Southeast Asian scene.
Here’s Blacklist International’s Dota 2 roster for the PGL Wallachia Season 2 closed qualifiers:
Despite fielding stand-ins, Blacklist’s roster for the qualifiers has a lot of firepower although Abed and Gabbi’s absence will undoubtedly be felt because of the duo’s contribution towards making the team a household Dota 2 name in SEA.
Mac and Raven, while experienced players in their own right, face the daunting task of filling the void left by two of SEA’s best Dota 2 players. Hailing from the Philippines, Mac and Raven have played with the majority of the players at one point in their careers.
Thus their ability to seamlessly integrate into the team's dynamic will be easier than anticipated. However, with only one spot on the line, both their contributions will be crucial for Blacklist International’s success in the qualifiers.
Mac is known for his time with Polaris Esports and Geek Fam while Raven has a plethora of experience playing at the highest level in esports, having played for teams like Geek Fam, Fnatic and TNC Predator. He was also part of Blacklist’s roster for over a year before his departure.
The PGL Wallachia S2 Closed Qualifiers will serve as a litmus test for the newly formed Blacklist International roster. Although the team’s future, especially Abed and Gabbi’s, is uncertain and might be headed towards a change, it’ll be interesting to see how the story unfolds at the qualifiers with the current lot.
The team's ability to adapt and overcome challenges will be a key metric to witness since the qualifiers are slated to begin in a couple of hours.
Stay tuned to BLAST for the latest updates.
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