Onic Philippines reasserted its mastery over Omega Esports following its 2-0 sweep of the MPL PH Season 8 third placers in their first-round showdown in the ONE Esports: MPL Invitationals on Wednesday, November 3.
The MPL PH Grand Finalist prevailed over Omega in the titanic clash between Philippine teams in the Death Bracket drafted by MPL Malaysia champion Team SMG. Onic PH’s victory also set up another duel, this time against MPL Indonesia's second placers RRQ Hoshi which also beat MPL ID’s third placers EVOS Legends on Tuesday.
Onic PH showed why it’s one of the favorites to win it all in the MPL Invitational as it only needed two games to eliminate Omega.
The men in black and yellow took control early in Game 1 behind the aggression from Marky “Markyyy” Capacio’s Claude who gave the MPL PH season 8 runner-up the edge during the team fights.
A clash for the Lord at the 12-minute mark, which Onic won, allowed the Denver “Yebmeister” Miranda-mentored squad to take out all of Omega’s inhibitor turrets. Omega, however, showed its comeback prowess as it successfully defended its base before making crucial pickoffs on Onic players in the following sequences to drag the game to the late game.
A clash for the second Luminous Lord proved to be the difference in the 21-minute game where Onic survived Kelra’s Alice to score a two-for-two trade and a free Lord to its side.
Onic ended the series opener in a 24-18 tally with Dlar taking the MVP honors on his Xborg with a 7-1-7 KDA while Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol proved to be steady on his jungle Paquito with a 5-3-8 stat line.
Kairi then caught fire in the second game. The MPL PH Season 8 top jungler flexed his might on his jungle Hayabusa with an impressive 12-1-3 KDA in the series clinching Game 2.
Omega actually made the right adjustments in Game 2 as it got the upper hand early behind a blistering start from Raizen on his Lancelot.
Onic PH managed to come back after Beemo on his Chou executed a crucial pickoff on Kelra’s Brody, allowing Onic to also take down Raizen and secure the Lord in the following sequences.
The Omega players successfully defended its base against Onic’s death push but the team’s over extension after that allowed Onic to ambush them and score a wipeout to close out the series in a 18-15 tally.