Two of the league’s heavyweights are set to collide once again as defending world champions Aurora Gaming take on last season’s runner‑up Team Falcons in Week 6 of MPL Philippines S18.
Both squads have undeniably proven their calibre this season, from handing league leader Team Liquid PH their only defeats to finding true championship form. Currently sitting in second place, Team Falcons PH look to extend their dominant five‑match win streak against an Aurora Gaming PH squad that has captured 11 of their last 13 games.
In their last encounter, Team Falcons and Aurora battled through a three‑game thriller that went all the way to a 40‑minute decider—the longest game of the season so far. Team Falcons ultimately walked away victorious, but with Aurora coming off an impressive performance in Week 5, this rematch is shaping up to be another absolute war.
Prime Opportunity for the Falcons
Team Falcons have one clear target: to take the No. 1 spot. They briefly achieved that in Week 5 before TLPH reclaimed it with a win over Omega, but the upcoming schedule gives Falcons the perfect opportunity not only to take it back but also to make a statement.
The S17 runners‑up face a major test in Week 6, taking on third‑seeded ONIC and fourth‑seeded Aurora. However, they enter these matchups carrying serious momentum. In Week 4, Falcons showcased their strength with four players earning spots on the Team of the Week, before following it up in Week 5 with a dominant performance against Twisted Minds. In that series, they finished with a combined 17–4 kill score while building a massive 10,000‑gold lead in both games. Kyle led the charge, finishing with a standout 6/1/10 combined KDA.
Their firepower has also been on full display this season, with multiple players ranking among the league’s best in key categories. Jungler Kyle currently ranks third in total kills, roamer Owgwen sits third in assists, and mid‑laner Hadji holds fifth place in overall KDA. SuperMarco, on the other hand, has been in superstar form—ranking second in both total kills and overall KDA.
Having already defeated both ONIC and Aurora Gaming, Falcons enter the week with the form and the statistics to back up their claim for first place.
The Northern Lights Are Ready to Strike Again
Aurora Gaming, on the other hand, have been on a stellar run and will look to keep the momentum going this week. They will seek another victory against AP.Bren before facing the Falcons with a chance to settle the score.
Early on, roamer Light declared that Aurora had the talent to go head‑to‑head with the league’s elite. While those results did not materialise in the opening weeks, they have proven his point recently. Week 5 was a breakthrough run for Aurora, where they knocked off Omega Esports and stopped Team Liquid PH’s dominant streak. With that performance, four of their players emerged in the Team of the Week.
Light was the driving force behind that surge, delivering the game‑changing plays and securing Week 5 MVP honours with a stellar 3/5/29 KDA across four games. Alongside him, gold‑laner Domeng has emerged as a reliable win condition and now ranks fifth in the league in total kills. Recently, he also cemented his place in MPL Philippines history, becoming the 14th player to reach 1,000 career kills.
Having already snapped Team Liquid’s streak, Aurora have shown that they definitely have what it takes to bring down anyone—now the Northern Lights are well positioned to do it all over again.
