QUEZON CITY – Team Liquid Philippines claimed the top seed in the MPL Philippines Season 18 regular season after taking a 2-1 win over Team Falcons PH on Sunday inside the Victoria Sports Tower.
Aurora Gaming PH also closed its campaign with a 2-1 victory over Twisted Minds PH, but dropping Game 1 left the Northern Lights in fourth place at 9-5, behind ONIC Philippines on game differential.
Aurora survives Twisted Minds’ late push
Twisted Minds opened the series with a Game 1 win, with Tracy “Tracyyy” Damasco’s Belerick repeatedly disrupting Aurora around the Lord pit.
Tracyyy recorded a 3/3/7 KDA, including a crucial set in the 16th minute that wiped out Aurora. Lance “Lansu” Misa’s Uranus added frontline durability with a 1/1/9 performance.
Aurora attempted to reposition for another Lord contest but was wiped out again after Twisted Minds caught the team with another strong initiation from Tracyyy and Lansu.
The Northern Lights responded emphatically in Game 2, finishing the map in just 12 minutes.
Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo led the sweep with a 7/0/5 KDA on Zhuxin to earn MVP honors, while Jan Dominic “Domeng” del Mundo’s Miya finished with four kills and eight assists.
A clash in the seventh minute proved decisive. Despite Yue being low on health, Aurora secured two kills against AJ “Kayn” Sombilon’s Aulus and Tracyyy’s Gatotkaca, then claimed the Turtle and eliminated Lansu’s Cici. Aurora maintained control from there to force a deciding game.
Aurora wins extended Game 3
Twisted Minds came out strong in Game 3, securing the first Lord within 10 minutes before Kayn’s Fanny and Miguel “Sionnn” Alcantara’s Selena helped wipe out Aurora.
Aurora fought back at the second Lord, taking the objective as Dylan “Light” Catipon’s Badang initiated an extended teamfight and helped eliminate Kayn.
The Northern Lights then struggled to close. Their 14th-minute push ended with Yue and Light falling, forcing the team to retreat. Aurora tried again four minutes later, but all players except Domeng were eliminated.
Kayn secured the Luminous Lord in the 19th minute, but he and Tracyyy fell during the ensuing fight. Aurora immediately pushed toward the base, focusing down the Lord as Twisted Minds attempted to defend.
The defense failed, allowing Aurora to complete the comeback and end its regular-season campaign with a win.
Despite finishing 9-5, Aurora settled for fourth seed after conceding a game to Twisted Minds. ONIC took third on superior game differential.
Twisted Minds finished winless at 0-14, with a 3-26 game record.
Team Liquid rallies after Falcons’ dominant opener
Falcons began their series against Team Liquid PH with an 11-minute demolition, winning 16-2 while securing every major objective and keeping all their towers intact.
Salic “Hadji” Imam led the rout on Eudora with nine kills, no deaths, and three assists, repeatedly targeting TLPH’s core heroes. Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya’s Lukas and Jaypee “Jaypee” dela Cruz’s Gatotkaca accounted for TLPH’s only kills.
Team Liquid answered with an equally decisive Game 2 win, also finishing in 11 minutes.
Alston “Sanji” Pabico bounced back on Pharsa with a 4/1/9 KDA, while Dave “Teddy” Viana’s Freya finished with seven kills, no deaths, and four assists. The Cavalry controlled most of the teamfights to force Game 3, stopping Michael “Kyle” Sayson’s attempt to backdoor the base through Sanford’s defense.
Sanford leads TLPH to the top seed
The deciding game was more competitive, with Kyle’s Alice proving difficult for Team Liquid to bring down. The tanky mage-jungler repeatedly absorbed pressure and kept Falcons in contention.
TLPH finally gained a clear advantage around the 18th minute, shutting down Kyle and eliminating Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano’s Freya to secure the Lord uncontested.
Falcons tried to prolong the game, but Sanford’s Lapu-Lapu set up a teamfight that pushed them back and left them unable to mount another comeback.
Sanford earned Game 3 MVP honors with a 2/2/8 KDA, sealing the series for Team Liquid.
Both teams finished the regular season at 12-2, but TLPH claimed first seed through its superior game differential. Falcons settled for second.
MPL PH Season 18 Playoffs begin October 21
MPL Philippines will return October 21 for the Season 18 playoffs, which will run until October 25 at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Team Liquid PH enters the postseason as the top seed, followed by Team Falcons PH in second, ONIC Philippines in third, and Aurora Gaming PH in fourth.
Smart Omega and TNC Pro Team completed the cast as the fifth and sixth seeded teams respectively.
