MPL PH: Team Liquid ousts Team Falcons to keep title defense bid in Season 16 alive

The "Golden Road" dream is still alive.

Team Liquid pulled off a 3-1 victory over Team Falcons in their knockout match to keep their title defense hopes alive in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 16 on Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Cavalry also kept their Golden Road aspirations intact, a rare feat of winning all four major tournaments in a single year, as they now advance to the upper bracket to face reigning world champion Onic Philippines.

The win also served as redemption for Team Liquid, who avenged their previous loss to Team Falcons. In that earlier matchup, the Falcons eked out a 2-1 win, securing a playoff berth despite being on the brink of elimination earlier in the season.

Gold laner Kiel "Oheb" Soriano remained spotless in Games 1 and 2, powering the reigning MSC champions to a commanding 2-0 start.

Oheb tallied three kills and nine assists in the opener using Ruby, as Team Liquid dismantled Team Falcons in just 11 minutes and 21 seconds. The Cavalry dominated from the get-go, opening the match with a blistering 13-1 kill spread.

They carried that momentum into Game 2, where Oheb showcased his mastery of Harith, racking up nine kills and three assists to push Team Liquid to match point.

However, Team Falcons — whose core previously ruled the world at the M5 World Championship — refused to go down without a fight. They turned to gold laner Marco "Super Marco" Requitiano in Game 3, who answered the call.

Super Marco picked Bane and delivered a crucial triple kill at the 17-minute mark, leaving only jungler Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno standing on Team Liquid’s side. That clutch play secured the win for Team Falcons and helped them avoid a sweep.

Team Liquid, however, ensured there would be no Game 5. KarlTzy stepped up in Game 4, tallying three kills and six assists on his signature Lancelot pick, as they closed out the series and secured a spot in the upper bracket — where they will face no less than the reigning world champions, Onic Philippines.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News