MLBB: Team Liquid ousts Onic Indonesia, keeps M7 dream alive

JAKARTA—The ‘Golden Road’ bid lives on for Team Liquid as the Philippine champion escapes home bet Onic, 3-1, in their knockout M7 World Championship lower bracket clash on Thursday in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Cavalry silenced the Indonesian powerhouse to remain alive in the tournament.

Team Liquid now hopes to replicate this victory against Aurora Turkiye in the lower bracket quarterfinals.

"There’s nothing wrong with Onic. It’s just thst we’re more prepared than them. And also, I think both of us were surprised by the meta,” Team Liquid head coach Rodel “Ar Sy” Cruz said.

Sanji’s Pharsa unleashed deadly Feathered Air Strikes in Game 1, where his five kills and 10 assists propelled Team Liquid to a decisive series opener win.

Sanford then shone on his comfort pick Lapu-Lapu in Game 2, dropping six kills and three assists to carry the Cavalry to a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Onic, however, refused to get swept.

Led by Filipino import Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol, the Indonesian champions dominated the Filipinos in Game 3. Kairi went unconscious on his Yi Sun-shin, dropping four kills and four assists within the first six minutes as they gained an early lead.

He then made a Maniac play in the next two minutes that ultimately torched Team Liquid. He tallied a 10/1/9 KDA to help Onic finish off Team Liquid in just 11 minutes and 14 seconds.

Onic built from that momentum in Game 4 with gold laner Skylar even securing the first blood against Kiel “Oheb” Soriano on his Lunox pick.

But the Filipinos flipped the switch with Sanford, this time usng Terizla, swinging for perfectly-timed plays that allowed Team Liquid to seal it in four games.

Sanford ended up bagging that game’s MVP honors, thanks to his two kills and nine assists.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News