Team Liquid PH: On the Edge of Glory
Photo from MPL Philippines / Richard Esguerra
Team Liquid PH: On the Edge of Glory
Team Liquid Philippines had a memorable start to their Season 15 run. With their most recent acquisition in Kiel “Oheb” Soriano and Coach Rodel “Ar Sy” Cruz, they stormed their way to an MPL Philippines title and an MSC trophy, cementing their status as the team to beat.
Heading into Season 16, all eyes were on the Cavalry as they prepared to defend their crown in the hardest MPL region and against some of the best players in the current scene. The lingering even-numbered season curse also loomed on the horizon, a shadow from their ECHO past.
But TLPH marched on — fearless, confident, and born this way to chase not only the elusive Golden Road but also redemption from every bad romance they’ve had with history.
Perfect Illusion
TLPH made basically no change in their lineup, and for one simple reason — why fix what’s not broken?
Throughout the regular season, the Cavalry mastered the art of control. They led all teams in total sweeps with seven, accounting for 78% of their wins, and became the least likely team to be dragged into a Game 3 decider.
They were riding high — four straight wins until mid-September — before the Project NEXT patch shifted the meta. From there, the story turned into a perfect illusion: dominant when favored, vulnerable when pushed. Their shock 1–2 loss to Team Falcons PH in the penultimate week broke the rhythm, costing them an upper bracket slot.
Now, they must face the same team again in Day 1, this time with everything on the line.
Dance in the Dark
Season 16 showed a new side to Liquid — one unafraid to evolve. From the team that once had the smallest hero pool in Season 15’s regular season with fewer than 40 heroes, they’ve now expanded to 46, the second-most in the league despite playing the fewest total games.
Coach Ar Sy and the players knew that adaptation is the artpop of esports — performance through reinvention. Their numbers tell a confident story: the highest total assists per game at 30, the fewest deaths at 10.3, and the most damage per minute at over 12,000.
Under the bright lights and chaos, this was their rhythm — the liquid stampede of coordinated brilliance, patience, and precision.
Poker Face
While Oheb continued to perform consistently, two names defined TLPH’s latest act — KarlTzy and Sanji.
KarlTzy, the anointed GOAT, proved again why he’s the fame monster of the league. With averages of 3.03 kills, 2.06 deaths, and 6.03 assists, he stood among the top 10 in kills and ranked fourth among junglers in objectives secured. His command of the jungle, matched with his poise, gave him nine game MVPs this season — the most by any player.
Sanji, meanwhile, danced through every fight with the grace of a superstar. Dying just 47 times in 33 games (a 1.42 average) while maintaining a 6.15 KDA, he embodied calculated chaos — the kind that makes enemies fold while keeping his own poker face. Efficient, composed, and deadly, Sanji continues to prove he’s more than just a midlaner — he’s the calm before the storm.
When the Chef cooks, the GOAT eats, and TLPH thrives.
Applause
Now comes the encore. TLPH are set to face a familiar foe in Team Falcons PH — one that knows their rhythm as well as their roar. Both sides have rewritten their playbooks since Project NEXT, and the stage is set for a clash that could define the season’s narrative.
Falcons may have haunted their past, but champions don’t flinch in the spotlight. With KarlTzy’s legacy, the sparks from his teamates, and Ar Sy’s vision, TLPH are ready to give the crowd what they came for — applause.
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just another title defense, or the step to the Golden Road. It’s another act in a never-ending show — and the Cavalry are ready to remind everyone why they’re still on the edge of glory.
(Stats courtesy of MPL Philippines, Drew Malihan, and Jesus Evan Bonjibod)
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