MPL PH Season 15: Twisted Minds PH, Aurora secure crucial wins; Liquid PH falls to surging ONIC PH
Photo from MPL Philippines / Richard Esguerra
MPL PH Season 15: Twisted Minds PH, Aurora secure crucial wins; Liquid PH falls to surging ONIC PH
MAKATI — Aurora Gaming reclaimed the top spot in the MPL Philippines Season 15 standings, Twisted Minds PH kept their playoff hopes alive, while Team Liquid PH suffered a tough loss against a revitalized ONIC Philippines on Saturday.
Twisted Minds PH stunned a struggling AP.Bren squad with a crucial 2-0 sweep, while the Northern Lights delivered a clean win against Smart Omega. Meanwhile, Liquid PH endured a heartbreaking 1-2 defeat against an ONIC PH side that continues to build momentum heading into the crucial weeks.
Twisted Bliss: Minds edge Bren with clutch moments
Twisted Minds PH and AP.Bren both pulled out surprise picks in Game 1, with TWIS fielding a Leomord jungler and APBR introducing a Carmilla roamer — both making their first appearances this season.
AP.Bren managed to secure the first and only lord at the 11th minute, led by James “JamesPangks” Mendoza’s Joy. However, despite claiming the objective, AP.Bren failed to retreat cleanly, and TWIS immediately punished them. A rapid team wipeout in under 15 seconds flipped the game, with Michael “MP The King” Endino earning MVP honors after tallying four kills and four assists on Leomord.
Game 2 saw another comeback story as MP The King’s Ling spearheaded TWIS’ offense with a 7-6 KDA performance. A crucial pickoff on JamesPangks’ Joy allowed TWIS to complete the sweep and solidify their third series win.
Twisted Minds PH improved to a 3-10 standing, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive ahead of a key matchup against ONIC PH next week. Meanwhile, AP.Bren slid further down with a 1-10 record, needing a miracle to turn their season around.
Aurora shines bright against Smart Omega
Aurora Gaming made quick work of Smart Omega, sweeping the series to momentarily reclaim the number one seed.
Veteran EXP laner Edward “Edward” Dapadap, now under the “Legend Zero” moniker, debuted his Esmeralda pick to great success, posting eight assists and dying only once in an 11-3 romp in Game 1. Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo also showed out, piloting Zhuxin to four kills and seven assists in the 14-minute game.
On the flip side, Smart Omega’s Czedrick “Super Yoshi” Romero struggled, with his Badang pick falling six times and offering minimal impact.
Game 2 saw a closer contest, but Aurora held firm. Renejay “Renejay” Barcarse’s Chou played a pivotal role, contributing two kills and eight assists, while Jann Dominic “Domeng” Del Mundo exploded with a 7-6 KDA performance. Despite Omega showing some resistance, Aurora’s coordination ultimately sealed the 2-0 win.
With the sweep, Aurora Gaming improved to a 10-1 record, climbing back to the top of the standings, while Smart Omega faces an uphill battle ahead of their next match against AP.Bren.
Liquid spills as ONIC PH surges
ONIC Philippines started strong with a Game 1 victory, dominating Team Liquid PH behind Borris “Brusko” Parro’s Khufra, who registered five assists and anchored the team’s aggressive plays. King Cyric “K1NGKONG” Perez’s control of the lord objective also proved vital in the 13-minute, 12-5 win.
Team Liquid PH, however, roared back in Game 2 with a dominant sub-11 minute performance, posting 15 kills against just two from ONIC PH. Kiel Calvin “Oheb” Soriano led the charge with eight kills and three assists on Harith, while Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya’s Badang recorded 12 assists without a single death. Jomari “JOWM” Pingol’s Moskov was shut down, finishing with no kills or assists.
The decisive Game 3 swung back in favor of ONIC PH. Despite not securing any turtle or lord objectives, ONIC capitalized on a late-game blunder. A risky diversion play from Alston “Sanji” Pabico’s Luo Yi was sniffed out by Brusko’s Chou, who spotted four members in one location. ONIC’s quick collapse and strong execution with the Kalea-Beatrix combo turned the tide, allowing them to close out the 2-1 series win.
Team Liquid PH drops to a middling record and will aim to bounce back against TNC Pro Team next Friday. Meanwhile, ONIC PH looks to maintain momentum as they face a struggling AP.Bren next.
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