Four teams within striking distance as MPL PH Week 5 wraps

Four teams within striking distance as MPL PH Week 5 wraps

MAKATI — Week 5 of MPL Philippines Season 16 conclude on Sunday with the standings heating up, as four squads remain within striking distance at the top of the table.

Across seven matches played under the new patch, the picture barely shifted from the season’s midpoint. The only movement came from Smart Omega and TNC Pro Team swapping places after the Barangay’s 2–1 win over the Phoenix Army on Friday.

Aurora Gaming held firm at the summit despite playing just once this week. The Northern Lights avenged their opening-day loss to Team Falcons PH with a 2–1 victory, improving to 7–1. They face a critical Week 6 with back-to-back assignments against Team Liquid PH and ONIC Philippines.

Defending world champions ONIC Philippines also logged just one series, prevailing in a hard-fought reverse sweep over rivals Team Liquid PH. After dropping Game 1 inside Broken Walls, the Super Fam stormed back to close the series 2–1 and climbed to 6–2. Their next challenges come against AP.Bren and Aurora Gaming.

For Team Liquid PH, Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya spearheaded a swift 2–0 win against TNC Pro Team to bounce back before the week ended. The Cavalry moved to 5–3 and brace for another tough stretch. The defending MPL Philippines champions will challenge Aurora on Friday and Twisted Minds PH on Sunday.

Twisted Minds PH continued their rollercoaster run, splitting their two matches. They swept AP.Bren on Saturday behind Mico “Nosia” Capil’s standout performance. However, they faltered the next day in a 1–2 reverse sweep to Team Falcons PH. The Minds sit at 4–4 and gear up to face Omega and Liquid next week.

In the lower half, Smart Omega (3–6) leapfrogged TNC after a 2–1 win but later fell to AP.Bren. Dean “Raizen” Sumagui shone in their lone victory, piloting Fanny in Game 2. TNC mirrored their struggles from Week 1, dropping both matches to Omega and Liquid to extend their losing streak to three.

AP.Bren split their slate with a 2–1 triumph over Omega before being swept by Twisted Minds. Midlaner Arvie “Aqua” Antonio stood tall in their win, leading the Hive to victory in Games 1 and 3. They sit at 3–6 heading into their matchup with ONIC.

Meanwhile, Team Falcons (2–7) endured their seventh consecutive defeat against Aurora before finally breaking through. Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano powered the Green Falcons to a dramatic reverse sweep over Twisted Minds. This in turn halted a skid that stretched nearly a month.

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Drew Malihan

Drew sucks at FPS games but loves watching PUBG and VALORANT. He found his way into esports through MLBB and HOK, and will die on the hill that Football Manager and even Excel deserve to be esports titles—despite not being good at any of them.

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