Omega, Aurora stamp wins in MPL Philippines as new patch kicks off
Photo from MPL Philippines / Richard Esguerra
Omega, Aurora stamp wins in MPL Philippines as new patch kicks off
MAKATI – Smart Omega and Aurora Gaming kicked off the second half of MPL Philippines Season 16 with hard-fought victories inside the Green Sun Hotel on Friday.
The Barangay edged TNC Pro Team in a 2-1 thriller, while the Northern Lights exacted revenge on Team Falcons PH with a statement 2-1 win.
It also marked the first play day under Patch 2.1.18, where four different maps are randomly chosen before each drafting phase, adding a new layer of unpredictability for both players and coaches.
Smart Omega repeats over TNC
Omega struck first in their series against TNC, taking an 18-minute opener on the Expanding Rivers map. Salic “Hadji” Imam’s Kagura shined with a 4/0/5 KDA, orchestrating Omega’s push from the ninth minute onward.
Despite TNC’s early control — highlighted by a gold lead, all three turtles, and first lord — costly late-game mistakes turned the tide. Frediemar “3Mar” Serafico’s Benedetta fell on the right side, and moments later, Lance “LanceCy” Cunanan’s Kimmy and Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales’ Bruno were picked off, allowing Omega to surge to victory.
TNC answered in Game 2, leaning on Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog’s Grock. His perfectly timed conceal play at the 17-minute mark punished Omega’s early initiation, forcing ultimates and turning the fight in TNC’s favor. Justine “Zaida” Palma’s Lancelot secured MVP honors with a 3/1/3 performance as the Phoenix Army equalized the series.
But in Game 3 on Dangerous Grass, Omega’s resilience showed. TNC’s Luo Yi pick aimed to maximize the grass-heavy terrain, but a decisive skirmish near the turtle pit in the fifth minute flipped momentum.
James “Jeymz” Gloria and Hadji combined to break open the map, and Czedrick “SUPERYOSHI” Romero’s Khaleed sealed the deal with clutch plays, including a bait on LanceCy’s diversion at the eighth minute. With full map control, Omega closed the game in 17 minutes.
It was déjà vu for the Barangay, who also edged TNC 2-1 back on opening day. Both squads now sit at 3-5, with Omega set to face AP.Bren on Saturday and TNC looking to halt a two-game skid against Team Liquid PH on Sunday.
Aurora avenges opening-day loss vs. Falcons
Aurora Gaming extended their winning streak to seven by toppling Team Falcons PH, flipping the script from their 0-2 opening-day defeat.
The Falcons came out flying in Game 1 on the Flying Cloud map, scoring a 15-minute win behind Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo’s Franco (2/3/10). His early hooks on Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo’s Valentina and Dylan Aaron “Light” Catipon’s Chou set the tone, disrupting Aurora’s lanes and putting Falcons ahead.
Yue and the Northern Lights struck back hard in Game 2. The midlaner’s flawless Cecilion performance (2/0/14) had a hand in every Aurora kill, fueling a sub-11-minute rout to level the series.
In the decider on Broken Walls, Aurora dictated the pace. Jonard Cedrix “Demonkite” Caranto’s Lancelot and Edward Jay “Edward” Dapadap’s Uranus combined for 10 kills, while Light’s Franco anchored teamfights with a 1/2/7 line.
Team Falcons’ draft faltered, lacking artillery mages and long-range tools, as Yue’s Kimmy and Jan Dominic “Domengkite” del Mundo’s Granger punished them from afar. Aurora ran away with a 12-3 finish, seizing full map control and leaving Falcons scrambling.
With the win, Aurora completed victories over every team in the league and firmed up their status as contenders, while Falcons slumped to their seventh straight loss. Aurora will test their streak against Team Liquid PH next week, while Falcons look to rebound against Twisted Minds PH on Saturday.
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