Smart Omega upsets Aurora, Team Liquid sweeps first round in MPL PH Season 17

Team Liquid and Aurora Gaming — champions of the last two major global tournaments — experienced contrasting results to cap a dramatic Week 4 in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 17.

Team Liquid, the reigning back-to-back MPL Philippines champions and defending titlist in the MLBB Midseason Cup (MSC), pulled off a dominant 2-0 victory against Onic on Sunday to complete a sweep of the opening round with a clean 7-0 win-loss card.

M7 World Champions Aurora Gaming, meanwhile, suffered a shock 2-1 loss to lower-ranked Smart Omega as exp laner James "Jeymz" Gloria and jungler Dean "Raizen" Sumagui starred in the huge upset. 

Team Liquid jungler Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno (Fredrinn) led the charge in Game 1, winning the crucial 20th-minute Lord fight and forcing ONIC to retreat and defend its base.

But ONIC failed to hold off the ensuing siege, as midlaner Alston “Sanji” Pabico (Yve) unleashed Real World Manipulation to trigger the base lock for Team Liquid. KarlTzy ended up with three kills an eight assists while exp laner Sanford "Sanford" Vinuya posted five kills and four assists on his Freya. 

Team Liquid made quick work of ONIC in Game 2, with KarlTzy once again securing an uncontested Lord, this time using Suyou. The multi-titled jungler then clinched two pick-offs during an 11th-minute team clash en route to the victory. 

KarlTzy finished with a spotless KDA of nine kills and one assist as Team Liquid stayed perfect through seven games. 

Smart Omega's Jeymz shone with two kills and eight assists on Arlott in Game 2 before Raizen unloaded a spotless game of six kills and one assist on the Fanny in Game 3.

The win served as only the second victory for Smart Omega this season, dealing the defending world champs, Aurora, their fourth loss.

—JMB, GMA News