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Tag: ONIC PH

  • ONIC PH, Team Liquid PH set up heavyweight clash after dominant MPL PH Playoff wins 

    ONIC PH, Team Liquid PH set up heavyweight clash after dominant MPL PH Playoff wins 

    The race for the MPL Philippines Season 17 crown is beginning to separate contenders from survivors — and after two days of playoff battles, ONIC Philippines and Team Liquid PH are starting to look like the teams to beat.

     

    What began with tense elimination matches on Wednesday quickly shifted into a showcase of dominance on Thursday as both squads marched into the upper bracket finals with convincing sweeps.

     

    But before ONIC PH could even think about facing defending champions Team Liquid PH, the team first had to survive one of the most dramatic series of the playoffs.

     

    Matched against M7 World Champions Aurora Gaming in the opening round, ONIC PH found itself pushed to the limit in a grueling five-game showdown. Aurora, despite entering the playoffs with a shaky 5-9 regular season record, still flashed the brilliance that once made them world champions.

     

    The Northern Lights controlled stretches of the series and nearly completed the upset, but ONIC PH refused to fold under pressure.

     

    In Game 4, ONIC completely flipped the momentum behind a ruthless 14-minute victory powered by Cyric “K1ngkong” Perez. Using Leomord, K1ngkong dominated the jungle matchup and exploded for a 5-1-4 KDA as ONIC rolled to a commanding 10-4 kill advantage to force a deciding Game 5.

     

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    Aurora looked poised to survive elimination after controlling much of the early and middle stages of the decider, but ONIC’s patience paid off late. One by one, Aurora’s heroes fell during crucial team fights as ONIC staged a dramatic comeback to complete the reverse momentum swing.

     

    Savero emerged as the closer for ONIC PH, delivering a flawless performance on Karrie with a 6-0-5 KDA to secure the Game 5 MVP honors and eliminate the former world champions from contention.

     

    For Aurora, the loss closed the curtain on a difficult Season 17 campaign. Just months removed from winning the franchise’s first M-Series world title, the team struggled to maintain consistency in what many consider the toughest MPL region in Mobile Legends esports. Aurora only secured a playoff berth during the final week of the regular season before ultimately running out of answers against ONIC’s resilience.

     

    While ONIC survived a war, Smart Omega took a more methodical route to the next round after dispatching Twisted Minds, 3-1.

     

    Twisted Minds stole Game 1 after capitalizing on key pickoffs and numerical advantages against Omega, but the momentum quickly shifted afterward.

     

    Omega tightened its rotations and dominated the next three games behind several standout performances. Minguin orchestrated team fights with a clean 2-0-6 KDA on Yve, Raizen exploded on Leomord with an 8-1-4 performance, while Perkziva anchored the lineup with a flawless 0-0-12 KDA on Khaleed.

     

    By Game 4, Omega had complete control of the series, needing only 14 minutes to close out Twisted Minds and secure a date with defending champions Team Liquid PH.

     

    Thursday, however, proved far more unforgiving.

     

    ONIC PH barely showed signs of fatigue despite coming off a five-game thriller the day before, sweeping Falcons, 3-0, in a one-sided upper bracket semifinal series. K1ngkong once again dictated the pace for ONIC, while Kelra and Super Frince consistently won key fights to deny Falcons any chance of establishing momentum.

     

    The series never truly felt close as ONIC overwhelmed Falcons in objectives, map control, and late-game execution. Falcons struggled to keep up with ONIC’s tempo and were eliminated from upper bracket contention in just three games.

     

    Team Liquid PH delivered an equally commanding statement against Smart Omega. The defending champions looked fully in control from the opening game, dismantling Omega’s setups with disciplined macro play and superior objective control. Team Liquid PH’s chemistry and composure consistently neutralized Omega’s aggressive attempts to create openings, leading to another clean 3-0 sweep.

     

    The victory extended Team Liquid PH’s dominant playoff form and reinforced why the squad remains the favorite to defend its MPL PH crown.

     

    Now, the playoffs narrow even further. On Friday, Falcons and Smart Omega will battle for survival in the lower bracket, while ONIC Philippines and Team Liquid PH collide in a highly anticipated upper bracket finals showdown with a direct grand finals berth on the line.

     

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  • MPL PH Season 17 Playoffs kick off with blockbuster ONIC PH, Aurora, Omega, and Twisted Minds matchups

    MPL PH Season 17 Playoffs kick off with blockbuster ONIC PH, Aurora, Omega, and Twisted Minds matchups

    The road to the MPL Philippines Season 17 crown officially enters its most unforgiving stage on Wednesday as the league shifts from regular-season positioning to pure survival mode at the San Juan Arena.


    After weeks of standings battles, momentum swings, and upset-heavy matchups, the Season 17 Playoffs finally begin.

     

    Day 1 immediately delivers two high-stakes best-of-series clashes featuring ONIC Philippines against Aurora Gaming Philippines and Smart Omega facing Twisted Minds Philippines in what shapes up as a defining opening day for the postseason.

     

    For ONIC Philippines, the playoffs begin with both confidence and pressure. The third-seeded squad closed the regular season with a 9-5 record and enters the play-ins carrying a favorable history against Aurora after defeating the reigning M7 world champions in both Week 3 and Week 7 of the regular season. 

     

    ONIC’s aggressive rotations and mid-game control repeatedly exposed Aurora’s inconsistencies during those meetings, making them slight favorites entering the rematch.

     

    But Aurora arrives with a completely different kind of urgency. Despite enduring a rough second half of the regular season, the former world champions still clawed their way into the final playoff spot after surviving a tense qualification race. Their late push included crucial wins over Smart Omega and AP.Bren to secure the sixth seed and avoid elimination.

     

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    Aurora’s biggest challenge now is rediscovering the form that once made them one of the most feared teams in the region. While ONIC enters with momentum, Aurora leans on experience and star power — hoping the playoffs can reset the narrative of their uneven campaign.

     

    The second play-in matchup presents an even tighter storyline. Fourth-seeded Smart Omega and fifth-seeded Twisted Minds PH both finished the regular season with identical 6-8 records, setting up a rubber-match style encounter where familiarity could matter as much as mechanics.

     

    Twisted Minds struck first during the regular season, defeating Omega in Week 2. But Omega answered back in Week 6, earning redemption in a result that ultimately helped end the organization’s two-season playoff drought.

     

    Omega gradually rebuilt momentum late in the season behind improved objective control and sharper late-game decision making, while Twisted Minds earned recognition as one of the league’s most unpredictable squads — capable of upsetting contenders but also vulnerable to sudden collapses.

     

    Looming beyond the play-ins are two waiting giants. Second-seeded Team Falcons Philippines already secured an upper-bracket advantage after a strong regular season that included handing Team Liquid PH its first series loss of the season. Falcons now await the winner between ONIC and Aurora in Match 3 on Day 2.

     

    Meanwhile, defending champions Team Liquid Philippines enter the playoffs as the top seed after finishing with a dominant 13-1 regular-season record. The Cavalry will face the winner of Omega versus Twisted Minds in Match 4, placing immediate pressure on whichever team survives the play-ins.

     

    Beginning on Wednesday, only the teams capable of surviving chaos will continue the chase for the MPL PH Season 17 championship and will have the chance to represent the country in the 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris, France.

     

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  • Aurora Gaming’s MPL PH Playoffs spot hanging by a thread after straight defeats 

    Aurora Gaming’s MPL PH Playoffs spot hanging by a thread after straight defeats 

    From world champions to a team desperately trying to stay alive in the playoff race, Aurora Gaming’s sudden collapse in MPL Philippines Season 17 has become one of the league’s biggest surprises.


    Aurora entered the season carrying the prestige of being the reigning M7 world champions, expected by many to contend for another MPL crown behind a veteran core led by Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto, Edward “Edward” Dapadap, and Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo. Instead, the team now finds itself fighting to avoid an early exit after absorbing a painful defeat against Onic Philippines on Sunday at the Victoria Sports Tower.

     

    The loss marked Aurora’s fifth straight defeat, extending a downward spiral that began in Week 5 and continued against Team Liquid Philippines, TNC Pro Team, Twisted Minds, Team Falcons, and now Onic.

     

    For a moment, it looked like Aurora had finally rediscovered its championship form. Demonkite gave the struggling squad an explosive start in Game 1, masterfully piloting Harley with four kills and six assists to punish Onic’s rotations and secure the opener. 

     

    Aurora’s aggression and tempo resembled the disciplined style that helped the franchise capture the M7 world title earlier this year.

     

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    But the momentum quickly vanished. Onic adjusted in the next two games and exposed Aurora’s inability to maintain control once the pace shifted. Frince “Super Frince” Ramirez delivered a flawless Game 2 performance on Gord with two kills and three assists without a single death, before Cyric “K1NGKONG” Perez completely took over Game 3 on Suyou with a devastating seven kills and seven assists in another deathless outing.

     

    The defeat dropped Aurora to a troubling 3-9 win-loss record, currently placing the former champions near the bottom of the standings with their playoff hopes hanging by the thinnest margin.

     

    Despite the collapse, Aurora head coach Aniel “Masterthebasics” Jiandani still believes the team is slowly recovering its identity.

     

    “Konti pa. Hindi pa 100 percent bumabalik ‘yung form pero nakitaan naman natin ng improvement. So konting mastery pa sa ginagawa namin,” Jiandani said.

     

    Onic head coach Jeniel “Haze” Bata-Anon admitted Aurora’s opening-game draft caused serious problems, particularly Demonkite’s Harley pick which snowballed early and dictated the pace.

     

    “‘Yung Harley kasi, ‘yung hero na ‘yun, malaking factor siya sa meta ngayon kasi grabe siya mag-snowball. Ang OP (overpowered) niya kasi. Kaya naman siya tapatan pero nag-snowball lang nang malala nu’ng first game. Tapos hindi na namin na-sustain. Wala kasing makasabay sa Harley,” Haze said. 

     

    The timing of Aurora’s skid has made the situation even more alarming. Earlier in the season, the squad was still viewed as one of the league favorites after retaining the same championship-winning roster that captured the M7 World Championship with a dominant 4-0 finals victory over Alter Ego in Jakarta.

     

    Aurora still has a narrow path to the playoffs, but there is little room left for mistakes. The team faces Smart Omega on May 16 before closing the regular season against AP Bren on May 17.

     

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  • Clayton “Savero” Kuswanto embraces pressure as ONIC PH’s first Indonesian import eyes breakthrough

    Clayton “Savero” Kuswanto embraces pressure as ONIC PH’s first Indonesian import eyes breakthrough

    Being first often comes with pressure—and for Clayton Kuswanto, better known as Savero, that pressure is impossible to ignore.

     

    As the first Indonesian import to compete in the MPL Philippines, Savero didn’t just join ONIC Philippines to fill a roster spot—he arrived carrying expectations shaped by a championship pedigree and a region known for its aggressive, high-octane playstyle.

     

    But early into Season 17, Savero’s challenge has proven to be more than just mechanical skill—it’s about adaptation.

     

    “I’m the challenger who wants to prove myself in the Philippines,” Savero said.

     

    Replacing Duane Pillas, also known as Kelra, Savero steps into a system that is still searching for consistency. While his resume boasts back-to-back MPL Indonesia titles and an international podium finish, the transition hasn’t been seamless. 

     

    Instead, it has been a lesson in contrast. Philippine Mobile Legends, he quickly realized, plays a different game.

     

    “I’m excited to be playing in the Philippines, but I’m surprised by the defensive gameplay. I’m experiencing culture shock because the gameplay is very defensive,” Savero explained.

     

    The shift from Indonesia’s clash-heavy tempo to the Philippines’ slower, objective-focused style has forced Savero to rethink his instincts. In Indonesia, aggression often dictates outcomes. In the Philippines, patience wins games.

     

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    Thrown into a new environment with little knowledge of Tagalog, Savero had to rely not only on his gameplay but on the willingness of his teammates to bridge the gap.

     

    “They’re very supportive in helping me adjust because on the first day, I really didn’t know any Tagalog words. Day by day, in scrimmages and games, they help me learn and communicate in Tagalog and English,” Savero explained.

     

    That support system has been crucial. Teammates Borris Parro (Brusko) and Nowee Macasa (Ryota), both familiar with Indonesian culture from their stints abroad, have stepped in as translators—often in the middle of high-pressure situations.

     

    “‘Yung comms namin, hindi pa ganoon ka pulido. Every second sa game, sobrang halaga talaga. Kapag sa teamfight, kapag tatawagin ko si Savero, may split second pa na ita-translate ko ‘yung sinabi niya sa teammates ko. Sobrang halaga ng bawat segundo sa teamfight,” Brusko said.

     

    In a game where milliseconds can decide outcomes, even the smallest delay matters. Yet beneath the adjustments, there’s a larger story unfolding.

     

    Savero isn’t just trying to fit in—he’s trying to redefine what it means to be an import in MPL Philippines. His presence signals a shift in the league’s landscape, where cross-regional talent is no longer an experiment but a growing reality.

     

    And while ONIC PH continues to navigate an up-and-down start, Savero’s journey is still in its early chapters.

     

    With weeks left in the regular season, the question isn’t just whether he can adapt—it’s whether he can eventually thrive.

     

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