RORA bounced back big time, TWPH suffered its first loss, and FLCN continued to slump as the MPL PH Season 16 Week 2 concluded last weekend.
After suffering a 2-0 loss to Team Falcons in Week 1, Aurora Gaming regained its winning ways after overcoming last season’s finalists and MSC 2025 representatives ONIC PH and Team Liquid PH.
Edward Jay ‘Edward’ Dapadap believes that they were able to turn things around for the team since their earlier loss: “A win is a win.”
However, he also thinks that the team has yet to hit its ceiling with Dylan ‘Light’ Catipon, who just joined them this season after his stint in Indonesia.
“Siguro masyado pang maaga para sabihin ‘yun kasi ‘yung Twisted Minds din ginulat lahat. Grabe ‘yung naging performance ng mga former MDL champions. Tingin ko, pantay-pantay pa talaga lahat,” Edward said.
Going into the current season, Team Liquid PH and ONIC PH appear to be the top two teams since they were podium finishers at the recently held MSC 2025 in the Esports World Cup. But with Aurora Gaming defeating them both, Edward still prefers his team to be lurking behind the favorites.
“Sa akin, mas okay ‘yung ganu’n kasi mas okay sa akin na walang expectations sa amin,” Edward said. “At the end of the day, mas okay ‘yung walang nag-eexpect tapos doon ka mananalo. Okay na ‘yung TL and ONIC sa top 1 and 2.”
Counter twist
With a team of four rookies and one veteran, Twisted Minds handled its first three games with finesse to go undefeated after defeating Smart Omega on Saturday (August 30).
“Maganda ‘yung pinapakita nila kasi nagagampanan nila ‘yung bawat role nila. Tingin ko, possible sila mag-champion basta ‘yung pinapakita nila is tuluy-tuloy,” Salic ‘Hadji’ Imam said, praising TWPH after their match.
However, Twisted Minds PH seemed to have run out of plot twists to show, as they fell to the defending champions, Team Liquid PH, for their first-ever loss.
During the post-match interview, members of the team admitted they were surprised with the utility pick from TLPH. But when asked if their loss gave them a reality check, Twisted Minds PH mid laner Miguel ‘Sionn’ Alcantara revealed that their confidence never waned.
“Para sa akin po, parang same pa din. Pero sa mindset namin, i-treat pa namin as pantay-pantay kaming mga players,” Sionn said.
Longtime players Karl ‘Karltzy’ Nepomuceno and Jaypee ‘Jaypee’ dela Cruz were impressed with how the MDL champions from TWPH played against them. However, the two then humorously admitted that they are not yet ready to pass the mantle onto the next generation.
“Wala. Walang may gusto din magpasa pa,” Jaypee said.
“Ako, ayokong ipasa. Gusto ko kami lang malakas,” Karltzy added.
Wounded wings
After winning against Aurora Gaming in Week 1, Team Falcons is currently on a dry spell, still finding its rhythm after its surprising 4th-place finish in the IESF Southeast Asia qualifier.
Team Falcons was swept by both TNC Pro Team and Smart Omega in Week 2 to crash down to the bottom of the standings.
Despite their slump, Falcons’ head coach Robert ‘Trebor’ Sanchez assured during their interviews that the team remains optimistic about solving their issues moving forward.
