MAKATI – The sixth week of MPL Philippines Season 16 delivered fireworks on Saturday at the Green Sun Hotel, as three pivotal series unfolded with playoff stakes on the line. TNC Pro Team pulled off a clutch reverse sweep, Smart Omega climbed the table with a dominant performance, and Aurora Gaming solidified their playoff push by toppling ONIC PH in a heated clash of title contenders.
TNC Reverse Falcons to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
TNC Pro Team gave their fans reason to cheer, clawing back from a 0-1 deficit to defeat Team Falcons PH in dramatic fashion.
The Green Falcons struck first in Game 1, with Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo’s Mathilda orchestrating two kills and 12 assists in a 20-minute win. While Lance “LanceCy” Cunanan’s Zhuxin impressed with a 7/2/3 KDA, his efforts weren’t enough to carry TNC through.
Undeterred, TNC stormed back in Game 2 behind Frediemar “3Mar” Serafico’s flawless Esmeralda (4/0/9) and a surprise Bane pick from Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales, who delivered three kills and seven assists. They denied Falcons every major objective, forcing a decisive third game.
Veteran Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog then put on a clinic with his Grock in Game 3, orchestrating 11 assists as TNC closed out the reverse sweep in just 12 minutes. With the win, TNC notched their fourth victory of the season and will next face AP.Bren, while Falcons continue searching for answers ahead of their clash with Smart Omega on Sunday.
Omega Dominate Twisted Minds in Swift Sweep
Smart Omega reminded everyone why they’re a perennial playoff threat, dismantling Twisted Minds PH with a clean 2-0 sweep that lasted under 30 minutes combined.
Game 1 saw Omega explode to a 21-8 kill lead, powered by Kenneth “Netskie” Barro’s Harith (6/2/10) and a show-stealing performance from James “Jeymz” Gloria on Esmeralda, who racked up 11 kills and capped his run with a Maniac.
Game 2 brought more of the same as Jeymz transitioned to Harith, while Salic “Hadji” Imam’s Pharsa controlled fights with well-placed Feathered Airstrikes en route to a 4/2/3 stat line. Twisted Minds faltered with a draft lacking magic damage, which Omega punished with precision.
The Barangay’s sweep not only boosted their standings but also gave them momentum ahead of a crucial match against Team Falcons. Meanwhile, Twisted Minds face a steep challenge against defending champions Team Liquid PH.
Aurora Stuns ONIC in Clash of Contenders
Capping off the night, Aurora Gaming proved they belong among the league’s elite by taking down ONIC PH in a thrilling three-game series.
Aurora opened strong in Game 1 behind Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo’s Kimmy, who fueled a 14 minute victory with two kills and seven assists. But ONIC answered in Game 2, stretching the series with a 23-minute slugfest. King Cyric “K1NGKONG” Perez put ONIC on his back with a stellar Joy performance (10/1/3), breaking Aurora’s defenses in the late game.
With the series tied, Aurora responded in emphatic fashion. Jan Dominic “Domengkite” del Mundo’s Granger was unstoppable in the decider, going 8/0/1 in a dominant 15-minute closeout that sealed Aurora’s eighth win of the season. The Northern Lights now sit firmly in playoff position, while ONIC’s momentum was abruptly halted.
Aurora will next test themselves against Team Liquid PH on Monday, while ONIC aims to rebound versus AP.Bren.
