Should Smart Omega call for reinforcements from MDL?
Photo from MDL Philippines
Should Smart Omega call for reinforcements from MDL?
MANILA — Smart Omega NEOS is dominating MDL Philippines Season 5, emerging as one of the frontrunners to claim the championship this May. It’s a familiar sight—just last season, they went 11-0 in the regular season before crashing out in the semifinals after a brutal 2-0 sweep from RRQ Kaito.
Meanwhile, their main MPL squad is struggling. After two weeks of MPL Philippines Season 15, Smart Omega sits near the bottom of the standings with a 0-3 record, only securing a single game win on the last day of Week 2. With the team desperate for momentum, could a call-up from the MDL roster be the spark they need?
H2WO Leading the Charge in MDL
John Paul “H2WO” Salonga has been unstoppable in his second season with NEOS. Across six games, he has racked up 36 kills, 33 assists, and just seven deaths—boasting a staggering 9.85 KDA. If translated to MPL stats, that would rank him second only to Super Marco’s 9.89 KDA after Week 2.
His dominance puts him at the forefront of potential call-ups, should Omega decide to shake things up. But that decision comes with a dilemma: If H2WO moves up, Andoryuuu would have to return to MDL, a league he already outgrew. Omega also lacks a substitute jungler in the main roster, making the swap a risky move.
Other Potential Call-Ups
EXP laner Louis “Louis” Ariola has had a respectable MPL debut, outperforming Twisted Minds’ Jeymz (1.24 KDA) and AP.Bren’s Der (1.23 KDA) with a 1.37 KDA. He also leads the league in damage taken per minute (7,500), showing his frontline reliability.
If Omega decides to send Louis back to MDL, Dan “Dan” Yambao (2.52 KDA in six games) or Nowee “Ryota” Macasa—a proven MPL veteran who’s been inactive in 2025—could step in.
This season, two Smart Omega were standouts: Jayson “UK1R” Alupit (mid); and Jomari “JOWM” Pingol (gold), who have both been solid so far. Meanwhile, Super Yoshi is off to a promising start after breaking into the starting five, leaving the case even more debatable for Christian “West” Mangabay, Kevin “Sica” Bitancur, and Mark Ferry “Dokmen” Nazar.
Coach SN4P on Potential Transfers
Ultimately, roster moves will depend on management and the results of internal scrimmages. According to Allec “Coach SN4P” Alvarado, Omega NEOS has yet to take a series off the MPL squad.
“Pag nanalo sila sa amin,” he said, implying that until the MDL team proves themselves in scrims, a call-up remains unlikely.
With Omega’s MPL squad struggling and their MDL roster thriving, the organization faces a tough decision: stick to their current lineup or take a risk. The next few weeks could determine whether they hold firm or hit the panic button.
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