ONIC PH, Falcons PH survive 10-game playoff opener in MPL Philippines Season 15
Photo from MPL Philippines / Richard Esguerra
ONIC PH, Falcons PH survive 10-game playoff opener in MPL Philippines Season 15
MAKATI — Ten games. Two reverse sweep scares. One unforgettable opening day.
The MPL Philippines Season 15 playoffs kicked off with a historic bang at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati, with all ten possible games played across two upper bracket matches—a first since the league adopted a franchise model. Not since Season 13’s nine-game marathon had fans witnessed such a thrilling start to the postseason.
Defending champions ONIC Philippines escaped a reverse sweep from sixth-seeded Twisted Minds PH, while Team Falcons PH fought off a gritty TNC Pro Team in another five-game brawl.
Super Fam fend off Twisted Minds’ late rally
ONIC PH entered the playoffs with authority, demolishing Twisted Minds in a 15-minute Game 1 off the back of a dominant performance from King Cyric “K1NGKONG” Perez’s Joy (4/0/4). Twisted Minds struggled to find answers, with Michael “MP the King” Endino’s Ling managing only one turtle take and finishing with a 1/2/0 KDA.
Game 2 followed a similar script as ONIC’s Duane “Kelra” Pillas shone on his signature Harith, going 4/1/4 while controlling the tempo alongside Frince “Super Frince” Ramirez. ONIC held a significant map and jungle advantage, outpacing their opponents 25 to 15 in jungle buff control.
However, Twisted Minds dug deep in Game 3. Despite being pushed to the brink, Jomearie “Escalera” delos Santos’ Guinevere (3/2/4) and Salic “Hadji” Imam’s Pharsa (4/2/7) anchored a 28-minute comeback to extend the series. Jhonville “Outplayed” Villar took over Game 4 with an explosive 8/2/9 performance on Granger, evening the series and putting ONIC on the edge of elimination.
But the Super Fam didn’t flinch. Game 5 lasted just under 12 minutes, as ONIC debuted Lancelot in Season 15 with a clean 11-5 finish to end the series.
ONIC will face second-seeded Aurora Gaming in the second round, with a spot in the upper bracket finals on the line.
Falcons weather TNC’s fiery resistance
TNC made a statement early, taking Game 1 in 23 minutes behind a flawless performance from Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales’ Wanwan (9/0/9), including a Maniac before the eighth minute. Kyle “KyleTzy” Sayson’s Nolan was limited to just three kills and one Lord take, and Team Falcons looked rattled.
But Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano reignited the Falcons in Game 2 with a 10/2/4 Granger showcase. KyleTzy rebounded with a strong Lukas outing, contributing to 12 kills while his team swept all neutral objectives. TNC’s Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera struggled on Chip, going down five times.
The Falcons surged in Game 3, closing it out in just 11 minutes. KyleTzy’s Hayabusa posted a 5/1/6 scoreline, while Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel’s Zhask supported with three kills and seven assists.
Just when the series looked settled, Frediemar “3MarTzy” Serafico turned the tide for TNC in Game 4. With an all-damage EXP build, he landed crucial picks en route to a 7/2/9 tally. Lance “LanceCy” Cunanan added 16 assists with his Zhuxin, helping force a final game.
But Falcons stayed composed. In the decider, KyleTzy again delivered on Hayabusa (6/1/8), while Justine “Zaida” Palma’s Baxia was kept silent. Falcons controlled the map flawlessly, ending the 17-minute game without losing a single turret and dismantling all of TNC’s eight.
Team Falcons PH will next challenge third-seeded Team Liquid PH, with a coveted upper bracket finals ticket at stake.
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