In an absolute five-game war between the league’s top powerhouses, Team Falcons outlasted Aurora Gaming, 3-2, in the upper bracket finals of the MPL Philippines Season 18 Playoffs on October 23.
Riding the wave of their 3-0 sweep of ONIC, the Falcons kept their foot on the gas, pushing past the defending world champions to reach the Grand Finals for the second consecutive season and secure the country’s first ticket to next year’s MLBB World Championship.
Koyl Shines Bright for Aurora
Game 1 got off to a roaring start. In the first two minutes, the Falcons set the tone, building a 4-1 kill advantage. During the second Turtle fight, Hadji came up huge, taking out Domeng and securing a triple kill. While Aurora responded in the minutes that followed, the Falcons hit back with even more force, with Kyle’s Hirara leading a four-man wipe at the 10-minute mark. The green squad had taken total command from that point, controlling the map and building as much as a 7,000-gold lead.
Despite facing a massive deficit, Aurora pulled off a stunning turnaround during the third Lord fight. RORA completely outplayed the Falcons in the clash, snatched the objective, and stormed straight into the Falcons’ base to take the game. Light proved to be the difference-maker in Game 1, sparking the comeback with a stellar 0-3-14 KDA on Marcel.
Much like the series opener, the Falcons controlled the early goings of Game 2. Aurora was kept on the back foot until the eight-minute mark, when Koyl sparked life into his squad with a double kill. He didn’t stop there; in the very next team fight, Koyl completely took over, securing a Savage by wiping out all five Falcons as Aurora turned the tide once more.
Just as RORA looked poised to run away with the game, the Falcons turned the tables in dramatic fashion. By shutting down Koyl during the second Lord contest, the Falcons not only stole the objective but also wiped out four Aurora members to seal Game 2 and even the match.
Once again, the Falcons held the upper hand in the early minutes of Game 3. Aurora, however, did a great job of staying within striking distance. The Northern Lights eventually found their breakthrough during the first Lord fight, taking down three Falcons while securing the objective. The turning point came in the second Lord contest, where Koyl stole the spotlight once more, snagging the Lord and picking up two crucial kills to lead his team to the win and a 2-1 series lead.
Kyle and SuperMarco Take Center Stage for Team Falcons
Game 4 looked like RORA’s moment to close out the series. Following a competitive early game, Aurora blew the match wide open, surging to a massive 8,000-gold lead at the 16-minute mark. But the Falcons dug deep and slowly turned the game in their favor. Past the 20-minute mark, the Falcons began to gain the upper hand. With Aurora struggling to defend its base, the Falcons capitalized, taking out three Aurora members in the final clash to complete the comeback and force Game 5. SuperMarco was the driving force behind the turnaround, putting up a superb 8-1-8 KDA on Cici.
The Game 5 decider was an absolute masterclass from Team Falcons. They pounced right out of the gate, storming to a 5-0 kill lead and never looking back, building a staggering 12-1 kill score and a 10,000-gold advantage inside nine minutes. Despite Aurora’s defense, the Falcons delivered the knockout punch, wiping out four players during the final Lord push to seal the win and the series, 3-2. Kyle saved his best for last, unleashing an outstanding 9-1-7 KDA on Hirara.
With the victory, Team Falcons return to the Grand Finals with a golden opportunity for redemption after finishing as runners-up last season. Aurora, on the other hand, still has a shot at defending its world championship crown as it prepares to face Team Liquid once again in the Lower Bracket Finals.
