MLBB: Aurora Gaming sweeps Team Spirit to punch M7 knockouts ticket

From an early exit last year, Aurora Gaming has now surged into the playoffs on the world stage.

Aurora mounted a comeback in Game 1 before completing a 2-0 sweep of Team Spirit to reach the M7 World Championship knockout round on Thursday in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The victory marks a significant leap from Aurora’s M-series debut at M6, where the squad managed just one win in the Swiss Stage before bowing out of contention.

The Filipinos, though, had to earn the win the hard way.

Team Spirit, who finished fourth in both M5 and M6, proved a tough challenge for the Filipino squad, taking an early gold lead in the opening game and destroying one of Aurora’s three inhibitor turrets.

A team fight at the 19th minute, however, altered the course of the game. 

Team Spirit's Oneshot was able to steal the Lord, but Filipino midlaner Kenneth "Yue" Tadeo (Zetian) had a crucial pick-off against Hiko (Claude). Edward "Edward" Dapadap (Sora) then switched into Torrent form that set up another pair of kills for Aurora, paving the way for the wipeout. 

They marched down the middle lane to finish it off and draw first blood in the best-of-three series. 

Edward, who unleashed two kills and seven assists in that encounter, was hailed the MVP. 

Team Spirit tried to extend Game 2 for as long as it can, but an energized Aurora was simply unstoppable after securing the first game as gold laner Jan "Domengkite" Delmundo went ballistic on the Granger, erupting for 16 kills and two assists against just one death. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News