MPL PH: MPtheKing-less Twisted Minds stuns Onic to arrest slump

No MPtheKing, no problem. 

Twisted Minds withstood a grueling Game 3 clash against Onic to pull off a 2-1 upset in the MPL Philippines Season 16, despite missing star jungler Michael "MPtheKing" Endino, on Saturday at the Green Sun Hotel.

Coming off back-to-back losses to Team Liquid and Aurora Gaming, Twisted Minds bounced back to improve to 4-2, while the reigning world champions fell to 3-2.

Without MPtheKing, who missed the series due to a health condition, the squad relied on sixth man Stephen "Sensui" Castillo, who helped the team survive a marathon Game 3 that lasted 25 minutes and 14 seconds.

"Doon sa holding area, doon na-check ng mga safety officers 'yung condition ni MP dahil nakaramdam siya ng hindi maganda so sabi namin, 'wag na niyang pilitin," Twisted Minds head coach Kristoffer "BON CHAN" Ricaplaza said. 

"Siya gusto pa niya talaga. Sabi ko kung ipipilit pa niya 'yan baka mas mapasama pa."

[At the holding area, that's where the safety officers checked on the condition of MP because he was feeling bad so we told him not to force it... He wanted to push through. I said if he forces it it might get worse.]

Luckily, Sensui stepped up and delivered a steady performance that allowed Twisted Minds to shock Onic. 

Twisted Minds and Onic went back-and-forth in the Game 3, but a crucial Lord steal by gold laner Duane "Kelra" Pillas (Moskov) through the Spear of Destruction allowed Onic to get an advantage. 

But Twisted Minds staged a massive defensive scheme that saw them take down the Lord at the top lane before midlaner Miguel “Sionn” Alcantara picked off a pair of Onic heroes at the 21:33 mark. 

Twisted Minds took advantage of the situation and marched down the middle lane, but retreated and decided to secure the Lord objective instead. Onic, though, initiated a team fight that led to the pick-offs on Kirk, K1NGKONG, and Brusko. 

Twisted Minds then slayed an uncontested Lord before going for the tower base lock to complete the stunner against the M6 world champions. 

"Para sa akin excited lang po ako maglaro kasi kahit sixth man po ako, hindi po ako huminto maglaro," Sensui, whose Akai pick played crucial role in that Game 3 clash, said. 

"Kaya feel ko kaya ko naman gampanan 'yung role kahit na may sakit si MP."

[For me, I'm just excited to be able to play because even if I'm the sixth man, I never stopped playing... I feel like I'm able to play my role even if MP is sick.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News