Aurora’s Win Streak Ends, Liquid PH Escapes Falcons PH, New-Look TNC Sweeps AP.Bren as Playoff Picture Takes Shape
Photo from MPL Philippines / Richard Esguerra
Aurora’s Win Streak Ends, Liquid PH Escapes Falcons PH, New-Look TNC Sweeps AP.Bren as Playoff Picture Takes Shape
MAKATI – MPL Philippines Season 15’s fifth week delivered intense action as the playoff race heated up, with the first teams securing their postseason berths.
Aurora officially clinched a playoff spot but suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of ONIC Philippines. Meanwhile, AP.Bren continued their struggles, falling to a revamped TNC Pro Team, while Team Liquid PH edged past Team Falcons PH in a tightly contested series.
The Cavalry Raids the Falcons’ Nest
Team Liquid PH solidified their playoff position after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Team Falcons PH.
Michael “KyleTzy” Sayson led Falcons PH to an early series lead with a dominant 3/1/11 performance on Joy, securing two Lord takes. However, Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano’s Granger proved to be the difference-maker for Liquid PH, racking up 10 kills and three assists in a crucial comeback.
Game 2 saw Kiel “Oheb” Soriano’s Moskov pull off a backdoor play while Falcons PH engaged in a team fight near the Lord pit. Alston “Sanji” Pabico’s Luo Yi provided the setup with a well-timed Diversion play, allowing Oheb to force a decisive Game 3. Oheb finished with four kills and six assists, earning MVP honors, while Sanji contributed three kills and six assists.
In the series decider, Team Liquid PH capitalized on their superior draft, securing Suyou, Granger, and Phoveus, while Falcons PH opted for Joy, Selena, and Hilda. The decision backfired, as Oheb’s Granger led a dominant 11-3 rout with six kills and one assist. Falcons PH’s Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel struggled on Selena, falling four times, while David “FlapTzy” Canon’s Hilda suffered three deaths.
Koyl and 3MarTzy Debut with a Win for TNC
TNC Pro Team snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 sweep of AP.Bren, thanks to a revamped lineup featuring Kyle “Koyl” Reyes and Frediemar “3MarTzy” Serafico in place of Justine “Zaida” Palma and Jhon Marl “Lord JM” Sebastian.
Lance “LanceCy” Cunanan’s Zhuxin played a pivotal role in Game 1, tallying three kills and a game-high 12 assists in an 18-12 victory. TNC dominated map control, securing all nine turrets while maintaining a perfect defensive record. Despite John Carl “Shizou” Valdez’s best efforts with Harith (six kills and three assists), AP.Bren failed to break through TNC’s defense.
In Game 2, Koyl’s Joy took over, posting 10 kills and three assists in a nearly 20-minute clash where TNC once again kept all their towers intact. James “JamesPangks” Mendoza’s Suyou delivered an 8/3/4 KDA but struggled to secure major objectives beyond a single Turtle.
Aurora Falls to ONIC Philippines
Aurora entered the day with an unblemished 8-0 record but saw their streak snapped by ONIC PH in a 2-1 thriller.
Jonard Cedrix “Demonkite” Caranto’s Lukas spearheaded Aurora’s Game 1 win, securing three kills and two assists in a low-scoring 6-5 contest. However, Duane “Kelra” Pillas’ Granger and Jan Dominic “Domengkite” del Mundo had unusually quiet performances as ONIC adjusted their strategy.
ONIC bounced back with a convincing 7-2 victory in Game 2, where Borris “Brusko” Parro’s Chou earned MVP honors with four assists. Kelra returned to form, notching four kills and three assists, while Edward Jay “Edward” Dapadap’s Hylos struggled, falling three times with only one assist.
Game 3 was a complete ONIC PH takeover. Jann Kirk “Kirk” Gutierrez’s Hilda dominated with six kills and three assists in a lopsided 14-2 victory. ONIC systematically dismantled Aurora’s defense, taking down all their towers while maintaining a perfect structure count. Demonkite’s Lukas failed to make an impact, suffering five deaths without securing a single major objective, while Renejay “Renejay” Barcarse’s Gatotkaca managed only two assists while falling four times.
With the win, ONIC PH improved to a 6-3 record, further solidifying their playoff bid as the regular season nears its climax.
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