Aura PH gave Work Auster Force a rude welcome in the MPL Philippines, posting a 2-1 victory for a winning start in Season 7 on Friday night, March 19.
The two-time MPL champions shrugged off a first game loss as they flawlessly dictated the tempo in the last two games with Benedict "Bennyqt" Gonzales and Chan "Rafflesia" Fajura leading the charge.
Aura took two points for the early lead in Group A while Work settled for a lone marker after its impressive start fell short against a veteran-savvy team.
Work came through with a 16-7 shocker in Game 1 as it dominated Aura behind Daniel "Chuu" Chu's Bruno, Dylan "Unravel" Catipon's Diggie and Patrick "rTzy" Grecia's Kagura led the fight.
Aura went back to the drawing board and regrouped in Game 2, pulling out the deadly duo of Bennyqt's Bane and Rafflesia's Grock with a High and Dry emblem.
Bennyqt deleted Chuu's Claude and Frediemar "3MarTzy" Serafico's Lapu-Lapu with the Flicker-Deadly Catch-Shark Bite combo in the 11th minute to seal the 11-5 triumph.
Rafflesia's Grock once again spearheaded Aura's aggression in the deciding Game 3 that resulted in a 14-11 win in 13 minutes and spoiled rTzy's stellar effort on Kadita.
Rafflesia wrapped up the series with a Wild Charge on three heroes of Work as Aura sustained its final siege to victory despite the absence of Jaypee "Jaypee" Dela Cruz's Lancelot.
Ashley "Killuash" Cruz proved to be a steady force with his Khaleed taking six kills and an assist without a single death while Allen "Greed" Baloy's Kagura provided the needed magic damage en route to five kills and four assists against two deaths.