Team Liquid PH (1-0) turned in a commanding 2-1 win against the reigning world champions Aurora Gaming PH (0-1), while ONIC PH (1-0) outlasted Twisted Minds (0-1) with a 2-1 victory to kick off Week 1 of the MPL Philippines Season 17 on March 20.
The season may have just started, but the action is already in full swing, as these wins set a high standard for Week 1. Here’s a recap of opening-day action.
Team Liquid PH Upsets World Champs
It might not be the same Cavalry, but the defending domestic champions Team Liquid PH remained in their usual dominant form, opening their title defense with a statement win over Aurora.
This was the first major test for the Cavalry following the exit of their star gold laner, Kiel “Oheb” Soriano. The MPL S15 MVP had been a cornerstone of their recent championship runs, leaving a major hole in their quest for a repeat.
TLPH made headlines earlier this month by tapping Indonesia’s Sultan “Aeronnshikii” Muhammad to fill those massive shoes. Fans were eager to see him in action, but his debut will have to wait due to pending administrative requirements.
Instead, it was Kim “Daiki” Sebanes who rose to the occasion. The sixth man was an MDL veteran who previously played for RRQ Kaito and Team Liquid Academy. He was also recently named as the analyst for the national team, further proving his caliber. He showed just that in his debut, finishing with a 5-1-5 KDA to lead the Cavalry to the win while also securing MVP honors in his very first game.
The Northern Lights, however, wouldn’t go down without a fight, punching back in Game 2. Jan “Domengkite” Delmundo was a force on Harith, finishing with a 9-1-8 KDA and recording the first Maniac of the season. Dylan “Light” Catipon was equally impressive on Grock, earning the MVP nod with his clinical plays.
Game 3 was another intense battle, with TLPH holding a slight upper hand throughout the early stages. That advantage proved to be enough, as the Cavalry maintained their composure before finishing strong. Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno delivered a flawless performance on Suyou, finishing with a perfect 5-0-5 KDA.
ONIC Stays Elite vs. TWIS
On the other hand, ONIC PH is also off to a winning start, with a hard-earned victory against TWIS. This match saw the debut of Clayton “Savero” Suswanto, making him the first import to ever play in MPL Philippines.
The match was closely contested right from the start, reaching the 30-minute mark in Game 1. While TWIS held the advantage late, a successful base defense helped the Sonics turn the game around. SuperFrince executed Zetian to perfection, finishing with a clean 2-0-8 KDA, while King Cyric “KINGKONG” Perez was named MVP.
Twisted Minds showed their mettle in Game 2 and surged ahead early. Caloy also delivered a brilliant initiation near the 10-minute mark, allowing his team to take down two ONIC members and extend their lead further. From that point, TWIS stayed in control and tied the series at 1-1.
TWIS carried their momentum into Game 3, storming out of the gate with a dominant start. But KINGKONG stepped up at just the right moment, spearheading ONIC’s comeback and eventually swinging the lead in his team’s favor. The star jungler, on Leomord, was simply unstoppable, driving ONIC to a massive 7k gold advantage and ultimately securing the win.
KINGKONG’s relentless performance earned him the MVP of the match, while Savero made several clutch plays to complement a solid 10-5-13 total KDA in his debut. Even without their superstar gold laner, ONIC showed that they’re still as lethal as ever, proving their status as a perennial powerhouse in the league.
