Team Liquid beats Aurora Gaming, Twisted Minds for spotless start in MPL PH Season 17

Despite a roster adjustment, Team Liquid launched its title defense bid in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 17 over the weekend with a perfect start.

The back-to-back MPL champions surged to a 2-0 start, outlasting defending world champion Aurora Gaming in a grueling best-of-three series last Friday before sweeping Twisted Minds on Saturday to move into a share of the top spot alongside AP.Bren (2-0).

And the Cavalry did that despite a late roster change. 

Just before its Season 17 debut, Team Liquid announced that its import Sultan "Aeronnshikii" Muhammad won't see action in the opening week due to 'pending administrative requirements related to the competition'. 

With their Indonesian gold laner sidelined, substitute Kim “Daiki” Sebanes rose to the occasion, showcasing Team Liquid’s depth. He made an immediate impact, tallying five kills and five assists on Moskov in Game 1 against Aurora before adding two kills and four assists on Karrie in the deciding Game 3.

Daiki’s strong showing set the tone for Team Liquid’s new campaign as the Cavalry carried that momentum into their next series against Twisted Minds. He delivered a flawless KDA in Game 1 with three kills and three assists on Granger then followed it up with another stellar performance on Harith, finishing with three kills and four assists in Game 2.

"Okay naman 'yung naging performance ko kasi kasama ko naman ay mga kilalang players, mga world champions, at international caliber so hindi rin ako na-pressure," Daiki said. 

"Hindi kasi ako naka-practice, one day lang talaga. So 'yung bonding na lang siguro [sa kanila], doon ko kinuha ['yung motivation]."

(My perfromance was okay. I was playing alongside the regular players, world champions, and international caliber, so I didn't feel pressure. I wasn't able to practice much, just one day. So it was just trying to bond with them, that's where I pulled it from.)

—JMB, GMA Integrated News