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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Esports devider Aurora, Onic PH stand as biggest hurdles to Team Liquid's title-retention bid

Aurora, Onic PH stand as biggest hurdles to Team Liquid's title-retention bid

Published Oct 19, 2025 12:31 pm  |  Updated Oct 19, 2025 02:01 pm

At A Glance

  • Top seed Aurora Gaming and reigning world champion Onic Philippines stand as the biggest hurdles to Team Liquid PH's title-retention bid as the MPL Philippine Season 16 playoffs fire off on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Top seed Aurora Gaming and reigning world champion Onic Philippines stand as the biggest hurdles to Team Liquid PH’s title-retention bid as the MPL Philippine Season 16 playoffs fire off on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Northern Lights have dominated the Land of Dawn during the regular season with an impressive 13-1 record to claim an upper bracket seat.

Joining them are the Super Family which narrowly beat the Cavalry for the other upper bracket despite sporting identical nine points and similar 9-5 records in the standings.

Onic PH clinched the upper bracket all thanks to its head-to-head record against TLPH, winning their two meetings, 2-0 and 2-1, in the regular season.

Still, bannered by Karl “Karltzy” Nepomuceno and Kiel “Oheb” Soriano, Team Liquid remains a force to be reckoned with in the postseason especially that a title in the MPL PH S16 would put it in the rare position to gun for a Golden Road in the M7 World Championships.

A golden road is a feat achieved by an esports team when it sweeps all the major championships in the year. The Cavalry won the MPL PH S15 crown to start the year and then ruled the Mid-Season Cup during the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Easier said the done, however, with Aurora looking all motivated to claim its first MPL crown after reaching the Top 4 in the last two seasons but ultimately falling short.

With Dylan “Light” Catipon proving to be the missing piece the Northern Lights need, at least based on their regular season showing, Aurora is looking to finally get over the hump.

But motivation isn’t also lacking on the part of Onic PH especially that it is also aiming not only at reclaiming the PH crown but also putting itself in the position to defend its world title come M7.

Then there is the Team Falcons PH, which, after a roller-coaster start, seemed to be finally finding its groove to catch the last bus to the playoffs.

Team Falcons will face Team Liquid in the play-in with the right to take on Aurora waiting as a reward.

Over at the other bracket, dark horses Twisted Minds PH and TNC Pro Team collide with the right to challenge Onic PH is at stake.

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