The Northern Lights wasted no time addressing their underwhelming MPL season finish, making a major roster move involving Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto. On Saturday, the organization announced via social media that its star jungler will move to the bench. On the official MPL Philippines page, however, the league stated that Caranto is officially on the inactive roster, confirming that he is completely out of the lineup.
This roster shakeup comes on the heels of a bruising season for the club. Given their blistering form in recent tournaments—including a dominant MPL PH Season 16 campaign, highlighted by a near-flawless 13–1 regular-season record and a runner-up finish, followed by their triumph at the M7 World Championship—many expected Aurora to remain the team to beat.
Instead, RORA stumbled under the weight of those expectations, losing 9 of their first 12 matches. While the Northern Lights managed to sneak into the playoffs after securing two crucial victories in Week 8, that momentum proved short-lived. Their season officially crashed to an end following a hard-fought defeat against ONIC PH in the Play-ins.
With the recent wave of roster shakeups across the league, several names have emerged as potential replacements for the decorated jungler. One standout candidate is TNC Pro Team’s Justine “Zaida” Palma, though with most of the Phoenix’s roster currently inactive, this move remains highly unlikely.
Another name generating buzz is AP.Bren’s Jonathan James “Jamespangks” Mendoza. Although the last three seasons have been tough for his squad—consistently finishing near the bottom of the standings—Mendoza has emerged as a major bright spot, establishing himself as one of the most promising young players in the region. He also shared in a recent interview that he is actively planning his next move, noting that he is open to relocating to another region if no local offers materialize, making him a highly realistic possibility for Aurora.
Alternatively, the club could look inward for answers. Gabriel “Denjiro” Guinto is another strong candidate. Guinto and the Aurora Hunters are fresh off an impressive run, having just secured the championship in MDL Philippines Season 7.
What’s Next for Demonkite?
This is not the first time the veteran jungler has stepped away from the active roster. Back in Season 11, Caranto was also moved to inactive status during his tenure with RSG Philippines. However, he made a triumphant return to the competitive stage a year later, executing a successful stint with sister team RSG Malaysia before ultimately transferring to Aurora. That said, fans will eagerly await the return of “The Celebrity” to the Land of Dawn.
