With the 17th season of MPL Philippines reaching the halfway point and the stakes rising by the day, it’s time to assess how all eight teams performed through the first four weeks—what we’re calling the league’s “midterms.”
The grades are based on each team’s performance relative to expectations, their goals, and their roster composition heading into the season. This also takes into account their outlook for the rest of the campaign as the second round of the elimination stage begins this Friday.
AP.Bren — C
AP.Bren opened strong, winning their first two series against Smart Omega and TNC Pro Team to briefly sit at the top. But the momentum quickly collapsed. The Hive dropped their next five matches and haven’t taken a single game in their last four series—no wins since March 29.
Still, there are positives. James “JamesPangks” Mendoza leads the league in total kills (75) and kills per game (4.69), carrying much of the team’s output. Kiel “Kielvj” Cruzem has also met expectations. The bigger concern is Jan Carl “Shizou” Valdez, who has been noticeably quieter compared to his Season 16 form.
Now in their third rebuild season, AP.Bren faces another uphill climb. If they want a playoff breakthrough, they need answers fast—or risk resetting again.
Aurora Gaming PH — B
It’s been uneven for the defending world champions. A three-match skid, including a surprise loss to Smart Omega, exposed some cracks—but they’ve since steadied.
Dylan “Light” Catipon remains one of the league’s top facilitators, anchoring Aurora’s team play. Edward Jay “Edward” Dapadap continues to deliver, though expectations remain high for him to fully dominate in a bruiser-heavy meta.
Sitting fourth with a losing record raises eyebrows, but Aurora has built a reputation as a second-half team. If history repeats, they’re still very much in the hunt.
ONIC Philippines — A-
Roster changes brought uncertainty, but ONIC Philippines has largely delivered.
They’ve handled teams below them convincingly and stayed competitive against top contenders. The lone blemish is a 0–2 upset loss to TNC.
Frince “SuperFrince” Miguel has been elite as always, posting a 7.84 KDA, while Clayton “Savero” Kiswanto has held his ground in the gold lane. Meanwhile, King Cyric “K1NGKONG” Perez’s expanded hero pool—especially on utility picks—has added another layer to ONIC’s flexibility.
They’ve shown consistency. Now the question is whether they can flip results against the teams above them.
Smart Omega — C-
Smart Omega sits at 2–5 again—same record as last season’s start—but with a worse game differential (-6). The stagnation is hard to ignore.
Rookie Carl Edriel “Minguin” Gallantes has been a bright spot, showing composure and leadership early. Dean “Raizen” Sumagui has also flashed brilliance. But the rest of the roster hasn’t consistently backed it up.
Their upset win over Aurora proves the ceiling is there. The challenge now is turning those flashes into sustained results—or risk staying stuck in the same position as last season.
Team Falcons PH — A+
Team Falcons PH looks like a title contender again after a Season 16 campaign that feels weird for FLCN’s standards.
Replacing a departing Angelo Kyle “Pheww” Arcangel with Salic “Hadji” Imam paid off immediately. Hadji has put up 54 kills and 130 assists in 17 games, driving a 6–1 start—the best in franchise history.
The improvement doesn’t stop there. David “Flap” Canon and the rest of the roster have elevated across the board. Their only losses came against fellow elite teams, and they swept through Weeks 3 and 4.
This version of Falcons is deep, experienced, and dangerous.
Team Liquid PH — A+
Team Liquid PH hasn’t just met expectations. They’ve crushed them.
Seven matches in, they remain undefeated, dropping only three games total. Dave “Teddy” Viana has been the breakout star, posting just seven deaths in 12 games and leading the league with a 12.29 KDA.
With Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya back in peak form and Alston “Sanji” Pabico controlling the midlane, the system runs smoothly. The core’s chemistry gives Teddy full freedom to operate.
At this pace, a 14–0 regular season isn’t unrealistic. And probably, another international tournament for the GOAT himself Karl Gabriel “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno.
TNC Pro Team — C-
TNC has struggled to replicate last season’s momentum.
A four-match losing streak has pushed them toward the bottom, and the meta shift hasn’t helped. The rise of aggressive EXP laners and stronger gold lane competition has exposed gaps in their system.
Dale “Stowm” Vidor and Justin “Zaida” Palma have held their own, but the team needs more from its core—especially Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales, who has yet to find his rhythm in the current meta.
There’s still time, but not much. TNC needs a turnaround soon.
Twisted Minds PH — B-
Twisted Minds sits exactly where expectations place them—competitive, but somewhat inconsistent.
They’ve beaten teams below them and struggled against stronger opponents, making them one of the more predictable squads so far.
Lee Howard “Owl” Gonzales has been a solid addition, while Lance “Lansu” Misa continues to deliver impact plays and ranks among top EXP laners in KDA (4.26).
With coach Kristoffer “BON CHAN” Ricaplaza at the helm, there’s always room for adjustments. A playoff push is still within reach.
Midseason Outlook
Four weeks in, the gap between contenders and chasing teams is already taking shape.
Team Liquid PH and Team Falcons PH lead the pack with strong, stable systems. ONIC and Aurora remain threats, especially if they clean up hiccups. The rest are fighting for position—and survival—as the playoff race tightens.
Round two starts now. And in MPL PH Season 17, margins are only getting thinner.
