Smart Omega has plenty of ways to win a game in the MPL Philippines, from winning clashes to backdoor plays. After 14 series, however, the team is still searching for the formula that makes those possibilities count.
Omega finished with a 7-7 match record and a 15-18 game record, enough to reach the playoffs but not enough to establish itself among the league’s top contenders. Its fourth-place finish in Season 17 offered a promising foundation, but offseason departures James “Jeymz” Gloria and Kenneth “Netskie” Barro forced the team to rebuild, bringing in veteran EXP laner Louis “Louis” Ariola and promoting rookie gold laner Wilburt “Cull” Salinda.
The new lineup survived the regular-season grind, securing its playoff spot with a sweep of Twisted Minds PH in Week 7. Now, Omega has a chance to turn a respectable campaign into something more.
The question is whether its flexibility can finally produce a Glow Up when the stakes are highest.
A wide hero pool in need of a better gamep plan
Omega entered the playoffs with the league’s widest draft selection, using 52 unique heroes during the regular season. It was also the only team whose every main starter drafted at least 11 different heroes.
That versatility gives coach Wuraaaah plenty of room to experiment. Omega can explore different matchups, move away from predictable compositions, and force opponents to prepare for more possibilities than they might against other teams.
But a deep hero pool is only as valuable as the strategy behind it. Omega’s 45.45% game win rate suggests that its willingness to experiment has not consistently translated into results. The team must do more than keep opponents guessing; it needs compositions with clear win conditions and the discipline to execute them.
Otherwise, Omega risks playing Pinball, bouncing between draft options without finding a reliable route to victory.
Raizen gives Omega an unconventional engine
Dean “Raizen” Sumagui is one of the team’s most distinctive players, combining offensive production with contributions that extend beyond kills.
He ranked fourth in average kills per game at 3.30 and fifth in total kills with 109. Among junglers, he also led in damage taken per minute, turret damage per minute, and unique heroes used.
The combination makes Raizen an intriguing foundation for Omega’s playoff approach. His numbers point to a player who contributes across fights and structure pressure, while his broad hero pool gives the team additional options during the draft. Hirara was his most frequently used hero, with 12 games and a 41.67% win rate, but Paquito delivered a stronger return at 80% across five games. Oh and don’t forget about that dreaded Fanny of his.
Raizen can influence fights and apply pressure, especially in backdoor plays, but Omega needs to capitalize more on those moments through coordinated rotations and objective control. His numbers are impressive; their playoff value will depend on what the team builds around them.
Cull’s rookie season meets its biggest test
Replacing Netskie was never going to be a small task, but Cull has given Omega reasons to be optimistic about its gold lane. The rookie ranked sixth league-wide in turret damage per minute and fourth in unique heroes used, with 14. He also accounted for 25.46% of Omega’s damage share, the fifth-highest mark among players.
His willingness to use fighter picks alongside traditional marksmen adds another dimension to Omega’s already flexible drafts, thanks to his exposure to MDL competition. More importantly, his objective pressure gives the team another way to create advantages beyond winning teamfights.
Cull’s aggression can be a strength, but it also leaves room for improvement in his decision-making and survival. Playoff opponents are unlikely to let careless positioning go unpunished.
He does not need to abandon his offensive instincts. He needs to know when to commit and when to preserve his life for the next fight. If he can refine that balance without sacrificing his damage output, Omega could have a gold laner capable of making a meaningful difference in the bracket.
Minguin needs to find his spark again
Carl Edriel “Minguin” Gallantes enters the playoffs with a different challenge: rediscovering the playmaking that made his rookie campaign in Season 17 so eye-catching.
His second split has felt more subdued, although his Eudora and other comfort picks have still produced important moments. Omega needs those flashes to become more consistent, particularly when games demand someone to create an opening rather than simply respond to the opponent.
As mid laner and team captain, Minguin can help connect Raizen’s pressure with Cull’s damage and objective threat. His influence does not have to come from kills alone; creating space, controlling engagements, and helping the team establish tempo can be just as decisive.
Omega’s broad hero pool gives him options. The next step is turning those options into reliable playmaking when the series is on the line.
Can Omega aim “Higher”?
Omega’s playoff ceiling rests on whether its strengths can finally work together. Raizen offers unusual statistical range, Cull has shown promising objective pressure, and Minguin has the potential to give the team another source of playmaking.
But the postseason will demand more than individual highlights and creative drafts. They need to translate them into better wins at the bigger stage.
Its regular-season record puts it in the middle of the pack, but that does not have to define its playoff run. If Raizen can help establish map control, Cull can sustain pressure without overextending, and Minguin can become a consistent playmaking presence, Omega has a route toward a deeper run, and perhaps, even the team’s first-ever MPL title within reach.
The team already knows how to offer different looks. Now it must show that it can make those looks count. For Omega, the path to a Glow Up begins with finding the right balance between versatility and execution. Only then can it aim Higher than its regular-season finish.
