Team Falcons keeps playoff hopes alive; Aurora clinches top seed after win vs. TNC
Photo from MPL Philippines / Richard Esguerra
Team Falcons keeps playoff hopes alive; Aurora clinches top seed after win vs. TNC
MAKATI — Team Falcons PH and Aurora Gaming close Week 7 of MPL Philippines Season 16 with crucial victories, setting up a high-stakes final week of the regular season.
The Green Falcons kept their playoff dreams alive with a 2–0 sweep over AP.Bren, while Aurora Gaming secured the top seed after a gritty 2–1 victory against TNC Pro Team.
Falcons soar for second straight win
Team Falcons clawed their way past AP.Bren in a tense 23-minute Game 1, which featured multiple highlight plays from both sides before a decisive late-game swing.
A crucial 22nd-minute Lord fight turned the tide — Michael “KyleTzy” Sayson managed to secure the Lord before falling, but the Falcons quickly retaliated with a near-wipeout of AP.Bren, leaving Jhon Marl “Lord JM.” Sebastian as the lone defender.
David Charles “FlapTzy” Canon’s Uranus earned MVP honors after a flawless performance with two kills and 11 assists, soaking the most damage in the match without a single death.
The veteran EXP laner doubled down in Game 2, once again using Uranus to perfection as the Falcons closed the series in 20 minutes. FlapTzy finished with a 1/0/9 stat line, anchoring a strong defensive front that allowed Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano’s Moskov to shine with a 4/1/3 finish. AP.Bren failed to destroy a single turret in the process.
With the win, Team Falcons climbed ahead of AP.Bren in the standings at 4–9, holding a better game differential. Now on a two-game win streak, the Green Falcons have one series left against current top-two Team Liquid PH on Saturday.
AP.Bren, now at 4–8, faces a brutal week ahead with must-win matches against Aurora Gaming on Friday and Team Liquid PH on Sunday.
Aurora clinches top seed after tight series vs. TNC
Aurora Gaming locked in the top seed after surviving a thrilling 2–1 showdown against TNC Pro Team.
Game 1 saw TNC on the verge of victory by the 16th minute before Jan Dominic “Domengkite” del Mundo’s Wanwan unleashed her ultimate to stall the Phoenixes’ push. That momentum shift paved the way for a comeback, sealed when Edward Jay “Edward” Dapadap’s Arlott landed a four-man Final Slash assisted by the Lord’s knock-up. Aurora closed the game before the 19-minute mark, with Edward taking MVP honors for his 2/6/9 performance.
TNC struck back hard in Game 2 with a 13–4 domination, denying Aurora any early advantage in a fast 13-minute rout. Lance “LanceCy” Cunanan’s Pharsa led the charge with three kills and eight assists, while Justine “Zaida” Palma’s Yi Sun-shin completely controlled the jungle, taking every Turtle and the game’s only Lord.
Aurora responded with authority in Game 3, taking a clean 14-minute win to seal the series. Dylan “Light” Catipon’s Badang earned MVP honors with three kills and four assists, while Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo’s Yve and Domengkite’s Wanwan provided key follow-ups in teamfights. The Northern Lights dominated map control, conceding only one turret all game.
The victory puts Aurora Gaming at 11–1, guaranteeing them the top seed heading into the playoffs. Their penultimate regular season match will be against AP.Bren on Friday.
Meanwhile, TNC Pro Team now stands at 5–7, with a do-or-die match against Twisted Minds PH looming — one that could determine their playoff fate or elimination.
About Author
