Onic Philippines displayed poise under pressure as it outlasted Nexplay Evos, 3-2, in their best-of-five thriller in the MPL Philippines Season 9 playoffs which ended in the wee hours of Friday, April 29.
Onic bucked a first game hiccup and an almost three hour delay to the series due to technical difficulties before coming through in the winner-take-all Game 5 to eliminate a gallant Nexplay Evos side
Allen "Baloyskie" Baloy provided the veteran presence in clutch moments as Onic prevailed in a tight tug-of-war in Game 5, 23-17.
Kairi "Kairi" Rayosdelsol held the fort for Onic with a 5-1-12 on the jungle Barats pick which he surprisingly utilized throughout the series.
Marky "Markyyy" Capacio who also executed timely Blazing Duet ultimates of his Claude finished with a 7-3-10.
It was actually NXPE which drew first blood in the opening game that started four hours late from the initial 7 p.m. schedule due to the long pauses both in the opening series and before their match.
MP the King ran wild on his Karina with a 13-1-7 line in the NXPE's stomping 24-5 Game 1 win.
The rising rookie however faltered in the next two games as he was shackled in Games 2 and 3 with Onic putting on the pressure with Baloyskie's Natalia pick.
The lackluster showing from MP the King forced Coach Zico to insert John Paul "H2wo" Salonga in Game 4.
The veteran jungler didn't disappoint and provided the spark as NXPE forced a deciding Game 5.