Aurora, Onic secure upper bracket slots as MPL PH Season 16 heads to playoffs

Aurora Gaming and Onic PH secured a much-needed playoff advantage after clinching upper bracket spots in the MPL Philippines Season 16, which will kick off on October 22 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Aurora did so by clinching the top spot with a record-tying 13-game winning streak for a 13-1 win-loss card, while reigning world champion Onic wrapped up the elimination round with an 8-5 slate.

Defending MPL champion Team Liquid also qualified to the playoffs with a similar 8-5 record while Twisted Minds (6-8), TNC (5-8), and Team Falcons (5-9) caught the playoff bus. 

Smart Omega and AP. Bren were the two teams eliminated from contention.

The final week of eliminations featured heartbreaking losses and major upsets, with Aurora pulling off a 2-1 victory that ended the playoff dreams of a rookie-laden AP.Bren last Friday. 

Aurora then dominated Smart Omega with a 2-0 sweep on Saturday to complete its 13th win in a row, tying Onic Philippines for the longest winning streak in league history. 

Team Falcons, who was once on the verge of elimination, did the improbable by beating Team Liquid with a classic 2-1 victory that sealed its playoff spot. Before that, Team Falcons also stunned Onic on October 3 to remain alive. 

All six teams are now headed to the playoffs with Team Liquid and Team Falcons slugging it out in a knockout game while Twisted Minds and TNC will also figure in a do-or-die match. 

Winners of these matches will take on Onic and Aurora in the upper bracket. 

The two finalists of this season will represent the Philippines in the M7 World Championship slated in January in Indonesia. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News