MPL Philippines has become a hotbed for the top Mobile Legends talents in the esports scene in recent years and a lot of them have carved their names and made so much impact to the development of the league through its 10 seasons.

The best and the brightest stars were even inducted to the league’s inaugural Hall of Legends – an elite company that is no question very much deserving of the recognition after becoming one of the household names in terms of the MLBB esports scene in the country.

However, it seemed like the 10 spots for the Hall of Legends awards weren’t really enough to fully highlight all of the greatest personalities to have set their feet in the MPL Arena as some, equally deserving of the spots, sadly missed the cut. Here are some of them.

Kristoffer “Bon Chan” Ricaplaza

The architect behind the Blacklist International dynasty in the MPL PH Seasons 7 and 8 and the M3 World Championship and the mind that plotted the team’s patented UBE strat. Bon Chan may have been easily overlooked given the performance of his powerhouse cast but there’s no denying that it was him who made Blacklist’s well-oiled machine work and kept the team together during adversities.

“We both started as players together and then we both started coaching. I started Season 3, he started Season 4, and parang the way we think about discipline, the players, the mindset, and then our hard efforts together. We were both inspired by each other. If ever it’s not me, I’d really give my position to coach Bon Chan,” said Hall of Legends inductee and RSG Philippine coach Brian “Panda” Lim.

Billy “Z4pnu” Alfonso

A lot may have known Z4pnu as the figurehead to his team both in the Execration and Smart Omega, but even before there were Demonkite, Kairi or Kyletzy, dashing their way through the Fanny pick, it was Z4pnu first.

Apart from Setsuna “Dogie” Ignacio, he also paved the way to the growth of the MLBB Esports scene in the country, even playing a role in the rise of some of the league’s current stars.

“Sa akin ilalagay ko yung number one idol ko si Z4pnu kase marami siyang na-inspire maglaro ng ML since Day 1,” said Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog.

“Ganun din sa akin, si Billy (Z4pnu) po kase siya po yung nakapansin sa akin noong nag-umpisa pa lang ako ang ayun kung saan-saan ako napunta,” echoed

Salic “Hadji” Imam

There’s no question that the addition of the KDA Machine to Blacklist brought the team to new heights. Hadji emerged an epitome of versatility as he made it look seamless transitioning from a carry role to support role when he joined Blacklist. And just like in his early days with Smart Omega, he continued to live up to his moniker.

“Feeling ko si Godji e, Imam-god. Nakita ko yung journey together with the players din na kasama ko ngayon and up until now may impact, malakas pa rin so ilalagay ko si Hadji, Imam-god,” said Hall of Legend caster Manjean Faldas.

Renz “Pein” Reyes

Talking about Blacklist and its dominance and winning ways in recent years, the good old days also had a team like that in the Aether Main/ Bren Esports team in Seasons 1 to 3. Pein served as the backbone of that team that had the likes of established stars in Ribo, Haze, Coco and Yuji.

“Sa akin yung dati naming captain si Pein, kase kung hindi dahil sa kanya, wala kami ngayon sa kinakatayuan namin ngayon. Dominance simula sa kanya,” said Ribo.

Alan “Lusty” Castromayor

Three members of the M2 Championship team have made it to the Hall of Legends so a question begging for answer was how come the veteran roamer wasn’t included as well. Lusty also had a colorful career and a bunch of silverware to back a possible inclusion in the future having won the MPL title twice, the M2 worlds title and a SEA Games gold.

“Para sa akin si Lusty kasi same lang kami ng achievement e, tapos matagal ko na siyang kasama simula SEA Games hanggang nag-champion kami sa worlds, siya yung kasama ko sa mid kase tank/support kami so malungkot ako na hindi siya nakasama,” said Pheww.

Jaypee “Jaypee” Dela Cruz

Jaypee may have been lurking behind the shadows of the powerhouse ECHO crew now, but there was no doubt that the spotlight was his during the back-to-back titles for the Sunsparks in Seasons 4 and 5 especially after bagging the regular season MVP in their first title run.

“Sa akin po si Jaypee, kasi sabay kami nag-grow e. Noong Season 3 sobrang tahimik niya tapos parati ko siyang kinukulit, palagi kong kinakausap hanggang ngayong sa Season 10, siya na yung maingay," said Rafflesia.

Other notable personalities

Francis “Duckeyy” Glindro

Way before the likes of Denver “Yeb” Miranda, John Michael “Zico” Dizon and Steven “Dale” Lopez strut their wares in the overseas, Duckeyy was the first one do it and actually help Indonesian team EVOS Legends the M1 title as part of its coaching staff. He since then went back and steered Bren Esports to an MPL title and M2 World Championship.

Yuji “Yuji” Aizawa

He was a legitimate “Mage-God” before he became the “Mage-Dad” that the community knew him to this day. A Finals MVP in Season 1 and a two-time regular season MVP winner during the years of Aether Main/Bren Esports in the first three seasons of the league, Yuji has became the benchmark of the midlaners during his heyday, and way before the rise of the likes of E2max, Aqua, Hadji and Baloyskie.