Team Liquid PH outlasts Onic to reclaim MPL PH crown

Team Liquid Philippines is back on top after dethroning Onic Philippines in a grueling best-of-seven finals series, 4-3, of the MPL Philippines Season 15 on Sunday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati.

The Cavalry, who emerged as the top-seeded club after the elimination round but fell to lower bracket in the playoffs, captured their third overall title while also denying Onic a second straight crown.

Both Team Liquid and Onic, the reigning world champion, will represent the country in the MLBB Mid-Season Cup at the Esports World Cup.

"Sobrang saya kasi nag-champion tapos about naman sa game, wala talaga kaming wino-worry kasi ang tanging hiling lang talaga namin is makapag-EWC and ayun, sobra-sobra pa 'yung binigay sa amin," Team Liquid head coach Rodel "Ar Sy" Cruz said in the post-game press conference. 

"First time ko po (mag-coach sa MPL Philippines) and hindi ko talaga ine-expect. Sobrang saya ko lang kasi unexpected talaga."

Onic's gold laner Duane "Kelra" Pillas made a bold play in final moments of Game 7, trying to pick off Team Liquid midlaner Alston "Sanji" Pabico (Luo Yi) as the third lord marched toward the defending champions' base. 

But it backfired as Kelra was then taken down by Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno (Hayabusa) that triggered a four-man wipeout on Onic's side and cleared the path for Team Liquid to seize the crown. 

"Lumabas talaga 'yung tibay ng TLPH. 'Yun 'yung strength nila na alam natin ever since. And I did say this bago mag-start 'yung season na sila 'yung nakikita kont top team, syempre aside from us, na kayang abutin lahat," Onic head coach Tony "YnoT" Senedrin said. 

"And rightfully so, 'yun nga 'yung nangyari."

The two teams now gear up for the MSC 2025, where the Philippines is looking to break a two-year title drought after Indonesia's Onic Esports and Malaysia's Selangor Red Giants ruled the past two editions. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News