QUEZON CITY — Team Liquid Philippines secured a spot in the upper bracket of the MPL Philippines Season 18 Playoffs after sweeping Twisted Minds PH 2-0 on Thursday.
The defending champions improved to 10-2 with the win, while TNC Pro Team’s Game 2 victory over ONIC Philippines later in the day gave TLPH the game-differential advantage needed to formally lock in the upper-bracket spot.
TLPH took control of Game 1 through veteran roamer Jaypee “Jaypee” dela Cruz, who posted a 2/1/3 KDA on Hilda. Jaypee played a key role around the Lord contest in the 13th minute, taking down Miguel “Sionnn” Alcantara away from the objective and denying Twisted Minds a chance to contest.
The Team Liquid roamer also absorbed 106,000 damage, while Dave “Teddy” Viana’s Cici led the team’s damage output with a 6/2/5 performance.
Twisted Minds prolonged Game 2 beyond 19 minutes, but TLPH’s early advantage proved too much to overcome. Karl Gabriel “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno was already five kills ahead on Nolan by the eighth minute, giving the Cavalry control of the map before Twisted Minds could stabilize.
Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya’s Esmeralda also absorbed much of Twisted Minds’ damage while finishing with three kills and four assists.
The sweep dropped Twisted Minds to 0-13 on the season. TLPH meanwhile now sits at 10-2, while the rest of the playoff picture remains in contention heading into the final matches.
TNC then gave TLPH the result it needed by taking Game 2 against ONIC Philippines. The win also kept TNC alive in the playoff race, with the team still fighting for the sixth and final playoff spot.
ONIC had already taken Game 1 behind Clayton “Savero” Kuswanto, before King Cyric “K1NGKONG” Perez helped ONIC answer in Game 3.
Despite TNC’s Game 2 win off Zehnder “Zehn” Fabugais’ Marcel performance, ONIC remained in control of the series while TNC gained a crucial map that affected the upper-bracket race.
MPL PH returns Friday with three matches in their card. AP.Bren will face Smart Omega with its playoff hopes on the line, followed by TNC against league-leading Team Falcons PH.
TLPH will then face ONIC Philippines in a rematch between two of the league’s top teams.
