King Cyric “K1ngkong” Perez’s early-game dominance in Game 5 propelled Fnatic Onic Philippines to a commanding 17-4 victory and a 3-2 series win over Falcons AP.Bren in the upper bracket finals of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 14 (MPL S14) playoffs.
Perez’s stellar performance, using the fighter-assassin hero Suyou, not only secured Fnatic Onic’s spot in the Grand Finals after their best-of-five series but also guaranteed their participation in the $1-million M6 World Championship—the pinnacle of the MLBB 2024 Competitive Season organized by Moonton.
Despite the loss, Falcons AP.Bren aren’t out of the running yet. They have dropped to the lower bracket finals and still have a chance to fight their way to the Grand Finals. They will face the winner of the lower bracket semifinal between Blacklist International and Aurora.
Coach Anthony “Ynot” Senedrin remained focused after the emotional victory. “I was jumping for joy after the match, but we need to stay composed. Our games with Falcons aren’t over. They lost the upper bracket, but they’re still there. On Sunday, we’ll give it our all,” said Senedrin, confident the Falcons are still a threat for the Grand Finals.
Perez, an 18-year-old star now in his fourth season, had a standout performance in Game 5 with 10 kills using the Suyou hero. Known for its high damage output, Suyou allowed Perez to take four quick kills early on, propelling Fnatic Onic to a 5-1 lead, which they maintained through aggressive play to claim the win.
Fnatic Onic took a 2-0 lead in the series, winning Game 1 with a 12-4 scoreline in just 12 minutes and 38 seconds. Duanne “Kelra” Pillas (Beatrix) and K1ngkong (Suyou) were instrumental, securing triple and double kills respectively. In Game 2, Fnatic Onic outplayed AP.Bren with a 13-11 victory in a 20-minute battle, with Perez’s Nolan hero contributing five kills to seal the game.
Perez’s heroics also earned him a spot on the All-Star Team 1 during the “Alamat Awards,” alongside Grant Duane “Kelra” Pillas (Gold Laner, Fnatic Onic PH), David Charles “FlapTzy” Canon (EXP Laner, Falcons AP.Bren), Frince Miguel “Super Frince” Ramirez (Mid Laner, Fnatic Onic PH), and Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog (Roamer, Smart Omega).
Earlier in the tournament, Fnatic Onic reached the upper bracket finals after a dominant 3-0 sweep against Aurora. In the previous season, Onic achieved a seven-game win streak in the regular season but failed to carry that momentum, finishing fifth after an early playoff exit. This season, they are determined to capitalize on their success and aim for the championship title.
