It may have taken four long weeks, but Team Liquid is finally back in the win column, marking their return with an impressive win over Omega in Week 1 of MPL PH Season 18.
Following their heartbreaking MSC campaign, the current meta has proven to be a tough puzzle for the defending MPL Philippines champions, and it’s fair to say they haven’t fully settled in—surrendering an early lead and suffering a reverse sweep against the Falcons in their opening match.
But true champions don’t stay down for long. The Cavalry fired back with an emphatic 2-0 win over Omega Esports on August 22, proving their powerhouse status remains fully intact.
Jaypee and KarlTzy Shine for Team Liquid
Team Liquid came out swinging in Game 1. Despite Omega gaining the early advantage at the first Turtle, TLPH quickly turned the tide. Sanji’s Novaria provided the firepower, while Jaypee’s brilliant positioning on Mathilda helped Liquid pick up three early kills.
From that point, the Cavalry was in complete control. Team Liquid repeatedly punished Omega with precise pickoffs and steadily inflated their lead to a massive 10k gold before KarlTzy on Harley delivered the finishing touches to seal the Game 1 win.
A much different Omega showed up in Game 2. They matched Liquid blow-for-blow early and even surged ahead at the five-minute mark with a triple kill from Raizen on Hirara.
For the next few minutes, Omega dictated the game, but the tide turned during the 10-minute Lord clash. Although Liquid conceded the objective, Jaypee’s Rafaela provided the sustain needed to keep the squad alive. TLPH then turned the fight behind KarlTzy, who secured a triple kill of his own, capped off by a high-value shutdown on Raizen.
Cavalry Power Through Adversity
Later in the game, the superstar jungler delivered once again, winning a clutch Retribution battle at the 17-minute mark to secure the Lord for his team. Forced onto the back foot, Raizen attempted a counterplay by sneaking into Liquid’s backline to find a pick and stop their siege. However, Jaypee spotted his position at the perfect time. With Raizen exposed, the Cavalry pounced on the lone jungler, securing the pickoff and the victory for Team Liquid.
Despite their struggles in the current meta, Team Liquid showed plenty of positives in Week 1 of Season 18, proving they are steadily finding their form. KarlTzy displayed far sharper mechanics, delivering brilliant plays against Falcons and dominating the objectives against Omega. Sanford and Sanji both provided steady impact across their matches, while Jaypee proved to be the ultimate game-changer against Omega, securing back-to-back MVP honors for his stellar play on utility supports.
