WHAT IF Dogie Used Saber Against Blacklist in MPL PH Season 10?

There’s a meme going around again. You’ve probably seen it.

It’s Game 2 of Nexplay EVOS vs Blacklist International in MPL Philippines Season 10, and Dogie—yes, that Dogie—was caught on mic during the drafting phase saying, “Ibigay niyo sa’kin Saber.” The line lives rent-free in the minds of fans. Like a punchline without a joke. A prophecy denied.

Instead of Saber, Dogie was handed Paquito, while Kzen locked in Saber as the team’s jungler. The result? A 25–13 demolition at the hands of Blacklist

But now, fans are asking:

What if Dogie got his Saber?

The Scene of the Game: NXPE vs BLCK, Week 5, Day 1

Here’s how the drafts played out in Game 2 of that now-legendary series:

Blacklist International (BLCK):

• OhMyV33nus – Lolita (Roamer)
  
• Oheb – Claude (Gold Lane)
  
• Hadji – Faramis (Mid Lane)
  
• Edward – Dyrroth (EXP Lane)
  
• Wise – Natalia (Jungle)
  

Nexplay EVOS (NXPE):

• Dogie – Paquito (Roamer)
  
• DONUT – Wanwan (Gold Lane)
  
• LanceCy – Xavier (Mid Lane)
  
• Renejay – Esmeralda (EXP Lane)
  
• Kzen – Saber (Jungle)

WATCH: Nexplay Evos vs Blacklist International, MPL PH Seaosn 10, Week 5, Day 1, Game 2

On paper, NXPE had a hybrid teamfight-burst lineup, anchored by Xavier’s range and Saber’s pick-off. But Blacklist answered with a layered, tempo-controlling comp built around Natalia’s map pressure, Faramis’s teamfight sustain, and Edward’s brutal frontline discipline.

The Meta Then: Burst Assassins, Map Control, and Roam Supremacy

Back in Season 10, the meta rewarded burst assassins who could dictate early tempo. Natalia and Saber both thrived in that ecosystem—but they needed space and synergy.

Blacklist played the meta like clockwork:

• Natalia punished isolated targets.
  
• Faramis let them sustain long fights.
  
• Claude and Dyrroth scaled and shredded.
  
• Lolita covered the backline with the stun-shield combo.
  

NXPE’s draft felt disjointed. Paquito roamer didn’t synergize with Xavier’s long-range scaling, and with Dogie not on his comfort pick, their ability to disrupt Blacklist’s formation was stunted.

What If Dogie Took Saber Instead?

Now let’s imagine a timeline where Dogie—not Kzen—was given Saber.

A few things happen:

1. Jungle Dynamics Flip

Kzen would’ve had to switch to a tanky jungler like Barats, Akai, or even Balmond—a better frontline match for Saber’s assassin playstyle. That’s crucial. Without a frontliner, Saber roamer becomes high-risk, high-reward.

2. Dogie as Saber Roamer = Vision Denial & Pick Threat

In this timeline, Dogie on Saber isn’t just damage but also a walking no-go zone.
His presence forces Blacklist’s squishies—Hadji’s Faramis and Oheb’s Claude—to second-guess their rotations. A well-timed Triple Sweep would have deleted a key target before Faramis could pop Cult Altar.

3. Natalia Gets Neutralized

Natalia’s whole thing? Isolation and stealth. But Saber’s instant burst punishes overextensions. Instead of OhMyV33nus or Hadji playing bodyguard, they now have to react to Dogie. It forces Blacklist to clump early, disrupting their lane spread.

4. Mid-Game Skirmishes Shift

Picture this: At minute 8, Dogie flanks mid, catches Hadji. No Cult Altar. Xavier and Wanwan clean up the rest. Instead of a 5v5, it’s a 5v4 every time Saber lands his ult. Suddenly, Blacklist’s chain of command breaks.

Would it be enough to win? Maybe not. But it would turn a steamroll into a war.

The Butterfly Effect: A Close Call, Not a Guarantee

It’s tempting to think Dogie’s Saber would’ve swung the game. But there are cracks in that idea, too.

• Blacklist’s synergy was next-level. Even if Dogie got the pick-offs, Wise and V33nus always had insurance policies: Lolita’s shield, Faramis’s ult, Edward’s clutch timings.
  
• A Saber roam needs split-second timing. It’s a high-wire act, and Blacklist is notorious for punishing missteps.
  
• And then there’s the mental game. BLCK had chemistry. NXPE? Still figuring out their identity.
  

Even in this alternate timeline, Blacklist still probably takes the series. But Game 2? It would’ve been messy. A slugfest. A grudge match. And maybe… just maybe… Dogie walks away with the last laugh.

TL;DR:

• Dogie wanted Saber in Game 2 of MPL PH S10 Week 5. He got Paquito instead.
  
• The meta favored assassins like Saber who could burst, roam, and swing early game tempo.
  
• If Dogie had played Saber, NXPE could’ve disrupted Blacklist’s flow—especially with surgical picks on Hadji or Oheb.
  
• Blacklist likely still wins the series, but the game becomes a brawl instead of a blowout.