Team Liquid PH Coming in HOT for the Playoffs
Photo from MPL Philippines / Richard Esguerra
Team Liquid PH Coming in HOT for the Playoffs
MAKATI – Team Liquid PH were once on top of the world—a team that reached the peak in Season 13. But since then, they lost their grip, spiraling into inconsistency, public controversies, and a lack of direction inside the Land of Dawn. Fans began to wonder: was their championship run just a flash in the pan?
Season 14 seemed to prove that theory true, finishing fifth and being booted out of the first round.
But just like SEVENTEEN’s own evolution, it only took a few precise moves to reignite the spark. With two calculated roster changes, Team Liquid PH flipped the script. They didn’t just bounce back—they re-entered the title conversation, closing the regular season on top once again.
“HIT” the Ground Running
Team Liquid PH wasted no time in restructuring. First came former Falcon Esports strategist Rodel “Arsy” Cruz as head coach. Then, just weeks before Season 15 began, they announced the arrival of Kiel “Oheb” Soriano and Masayuki “YukTzy” Fujita as their gold laners, with Harold Francis “Tictac” Reyes stepping in as Team Manager.
These changes also marked the exit of Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales, ending a key chapter for the Cavalry.
Midway through the season, YukTzy was moved to the academy lineup, while John “Perkz” Sumawan made his debut with the main roster—a quiet reinforcement that added fresh energy.
TLPH began with a bang, notching six straight series wins before falling narrowly to Aurora Gaming. They recovered instantly, breezing through Weeks 5 and 6, before falling once more to ONIC PH. But when it mattered most, they showed “Left & Right” control—avenging their loss to Aurora with a 2–0 sweep that sealed the top seed.
“Super” Sniper: Oheb’s Revival Arc
Much like SEVENTEEN’s performance transformation over the years, Oheb stepped back into the spotlight with an upgraded form—cleaner, sharper, and more refined. His return brought not just experience but execution, complementing Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno’s calculated aggression with precision gold lane dominance.
Over the course of 34 games this season, Oheb established himself as one of the most lethal players in the league. He led all players in total kills with 179, while also topping the charts in gold per minute (795.5) and damage per minute (3,668). These standout stats place him squarely in the conversation for Season 15 MVP.
His hero pool may not be the widest, but it is deadly effective. With Granger, he racked up 10 wins out of 12 appearances. His Harith recorded 9 wins in 12 as well, showing consistent effectiveness in mobility-based skirmishes. Perhaps most telling of his sharp focus is his performance on Moskov, where he remained undefeated in all three games using the spear-wielding marksman.
Oheb didn’t just bounce back this season—he reinvented himself at the center of the Cavalry’s title ambitions.
“Rock with You” Roaming
Veteran Jaypee “Jaypee” dela Cruz’s form returned as the defensive anchor with a flair for initiation. While his kill and death numbers remained steady from last season, his assist total jumped by 44—to 285 total, third among all players.
Jaypee also topped the entire league in assists per game (8.38), narrowly edging out Yue from Aurora.
His Jawhead pick remains a masterpiece. With a 9–0 record, a solid 2.72 KDA, and absorbing nearly 30% of team damage when fielded, Jaypee has proven once again he can be the glue of any squad—“Don’t Wanna Cry” might be the last thing enemies do before he suplexes them out of position.
“Fear” of the Unknown: The Hero Pool Conundrum
Despite their dominant form, Team Liquid PH heads into the playoffs with a unique risk. They’ve only used 37 unique heroes, just 47% of all who appeared this season (78). That’s the lowest among all MPL PH teams.
For context: Smart Omega, who is second to last, used 43 different heroes (55%). This could either signal elite comfort with a tight set of heroes—or a limitation that could be exposed in deep playoff series.
But perhaps this compact pool is part of their strategy. Like a finely tuned choreography, maybe TLPH has found strength in structure. What matters most is execution—and right now, the Cavalry is marching in sync.
“Aju Nice” to Be Back
From almost being written off to reclaiming their place atop the standings, Team Liquid PH has delivered one of Season 15’s best comeback stories. Their rhythm is tighter, their trust runs deeper, and their vision for the game is clearer.
With playoff storms approaching, the question now is: can they keep the tempo and finish the dance?
If they do, you can be sure—it’ll be nothing short of “Aju Nice.”
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