AP.Bren ends playoff chase after Aurora loss; ONIC PH sustains upper bracket hunt with win vs. Omega

AP.Bren ends playoff chase after Aurora loss; ONIC PH sustains upper bracket hunt with win vs. Omega

MAKATI — AP.Bren’s playoff hopes have officially come to an end after falling to Aurora Gaming in a three-game thriller during the final week of MPL Philippines Season 16 at the Green Sun Hotel.

Meanwhile, ONIC Philippines kept their upper bracket push alive with a commanding sweep over Smart Omega.

Hive’s firepower not enough against Northern Lights

AP.Bren opened the series strong, turning the tables in Game 1 with a 13-minute victory. James “JamesPangks” Mendoza’s Yi Sun-shin spearheaded the win with a flawless 5/0/7 performance, setting the tempo for the Hive.

However, Aurora struck back in Game 2, led by Edward Jay “Edward” Dapadap’s masterful Alice. The veteran EXP laner absorbed the brunt of AP.Bren’s attacks while posting a solid 3/1/4 KDA en route to MVP honors in a 12-minute equalizer.

The series reached its climax in Game 3 as Aurora’s mid-game power proved too much for AP.Bren to handle. Jan Dominic “Domengkite” del Mundo’s Harith delivered a stellar 8/3/7 outing, while Dylan “Light” Catipon’s Franco set up key picks that swung the game in Aurora’s favor.

Denniel Denison “xNova” Gomez’s Helcurt tried to create openings for the Hive but couldn’t find crucial kills against Aurora’s durable frontline. LordJM’s Cici also attempted to stall the final push, but Aurora closed the series in 15 minutes.

Aurora, now chasing ONIC PH’s Season 14 record of 13 straight wins, will next face Smart Omega. AP.Bren (4–9) will wrap up their campaign against Team Liquid PH in the regular season finale.

Super Family passes through Barangay

ONIC Philippines made quick work of Smart Omega in their series opener, dominating 13–3 in under 14 minutes. Frince “SuperFrince” Ramirez’s Pharsa soared high with a 4/0/6 KDA, dismantling Omega’s defense and earning MVP honors.

The Sonics kept their momentum in Game 2, though Omega fought tooth and nail to extend the match to 22 minutes. Duane “Kelra” Pillas’ Wanwan stood out with six kills and only one death, showcasing ONIC’s resilience.

Despite their valiant stand, Omega fell short in the final clash as ONIC executed a decisive team fight to seal the sweep.

The win lifted ONIC to provisional second place with an 8–5 record heading into their closing match against TNC Pro Team.

Smart Omega, now at 5–8, will face Aurora next in what could be a defining moment for their playoff hopes.

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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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