Onic eliminates NXPE with come-from-behind Game 5 win

Onic Philippines came alive just in time to survive Nexplay Evos and reach the final four of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 9 playoffs on Thursday.

The M3 world championship runners-up had to dig deep in Game 5 to score a dramatic come from behind victory and arrange an upper-bracket match against top-seeded RSG Philippines.

NXPE opened the series with a dominating performance, taking a 14-minute conquest of Onic courtesy of a runaway 24-5 kill lead.

Mariusz “DONUT” Tan (Brody) finished with a perfect 6-0-12 KDA while Michael “MP the King” Endino (Karina) compiled a 13-1-7 KDA including a maniac killing spreein the 11th minute that capped off a 5-1 wipeout.

Rainiel “URESHIII” Logronio provided the biggest surprise in the opener with an Akai exp lane pick that led to decisive pickoffs.

But Onic was not to be outdone as they retaliated with a hard-earned Game 2 win banking on sustain heroes in Baxia, Uranus and Grock to counter NXPE's Lancelot.

They scored the equalizer with a commanding 22-10 kill spread led by Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol's (Baxia) 5-0-11 KDA.

Onic did not let up in Game 3, unleashing Baloskie's championship Natalia that provided the disruptions on MP the King (Ling) leading to a woeful 0-5-5 KDA.

The three time MPL PH runners-up concluded Game 3 with a 3-1 counter go in the 19th minute. They were leading 19-10 on the kill tally.

With their backs against the wall, NXPE subbed in John Paul “H2wo” Salonga for MP the King that quickly worked wonders in a crucial Game 4 win to force extension.

H2wo (Ling) was the image of stability, finishing with a solid 5-0-6 KDA to spearhead NXPE's 20-8 kill dominance.

But the Season 8 runners-up refused to falter, mounting a massive comeback in the decider via Mark Christian “Markyyyyy” Capacio's (Claude) well-timed blazing duet in the 18th minute that sparked a 3-1 trade off and the luminous lord.

Onic has lost all outer turrets at that point while taking down just one but pulled the necessary stops and scored the decisive 3-1 exchange in a 24th minute skirmish to move into the final four.

—JMB, GMA News