Aurora Gaming stormed into the playoffs following a dominant regular season, finishing with the tournament’s best record and clinching the second upper bracket slot. Given their performance, Aurora were rightfully considered one of the heavy favorites and were given a 41% chance of winning the championship (the highest in the final four teams).
They were immediately tested in the second round of the playoffs against the defending champions, ONIC Philippines. Aurora pushed ONIC to a nail-biting five-game series, but King Cyric “KINGKONG” Perez’s masterful performance on Ling was simply too much, sending Aurora down to the lower bracket. There, they faced a familiar foe—Team Falcons, a squad they had previously dominated with a 4-1 record in the season. But this time, the outcome was completely different.
Aurora Gaming had the upper hand for most of Game 1, but Michael “Kyletzy” Sayson on Ling kept them in the game and eventually pulled the comeback. In Game 2, the Falcons clearly won the draft, but Aurora managed to hold their ground. It was a tightly contested match until the Falcons caught Jonard Cedrix “Demonkite” Caranto out of position, capitalized on the opportunity, and secured another win.
Game 3 was a do-or-die round for Aurora and they responded, taking control with as much as 4k gold lead and +8 in the kill score. Kenneth Carl “Yue” Tadeo on Kimmy and Jan Dominic “Domengkite” del Mundo on Beatrix both led the way with 5 quick kills each. However, Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo on Badang completely turned the game around with a crucial set up, leading to two massive shutdowns—and a Lord steal by Kyletzy’s Lancelot.
From there, the momentum was gone. Team Falcons never looked back and completed a stunning 3-0 sweep. It was another disappointing finish for Aurora Gaming—mirroring their run at M6, where they ended the swiss stage with a 1-3 record and became just the second Philippine team since M1 to miss out on the M-Series knockout stage.
What’s Next For Aurora?
The team is top-notch talent-wise, with a mix of experienced, championship-caliber players and promising up-and-coming ones. However, they remain consistently inconsistent, struggling to perform when it matters most. With limited success in the last two seasons, a roster change is a strong possibility.
Renejay has been a strong asset to the team, but his decision-making isn’t always the best. His shotcalling is a game-changer when it works, but it can also become a problem when it doesn’t. Some fans have suggested that Ch4knu from Omega might be a better fit. Others have pointed out that Demonkite’s performance has been lacking, especially when it comes to securing the Lord. Domeng also shows signs of inexperience at times. Meanwhile, there is a strong push from fans suggesting that it might be time for VeeWise to make a return.
From what I see, there’s not enough reason yet to panic. The team as a whole hasn’t even been playing professionally for a full year, yet they’ve already proven they can keep up with the best. They’re young, smart, and full of potential—but it’s clear their team dynamics still need work. With more experience, stronger synergy, and the right guidance, they have the tools to become a real contender.
