The MPL Philippines Season 14 Grand Finals was a high-stakes showdown for Fnatic Onic Philippines, led by the series MVP, 19-year-old Duanne “Kelra” Pillas, who celebrated a hard-fought championship victory with his teammates at the Green Sun Hotel.
The Sonics persevered through an intense, best-of-seven series against Team Aurora, clinching the title in a dramatic Game 7 to become the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League champions.
Throughout the series, the Sonics faced relentless pressure from Team Aurora, with each match showcasing the resilience and skill of both teams. Viewership records were shattered, with the MPL Philippines Grand Finals hitting a peak of 1.595 million concurrent viewers—an all-time high for the league—underscoring the tournament’s massive popularity among young fans.
“Akala ko talaga hindi para sa’kin yung championship,” Kelra admitted, reflecting on his journey after Fnatic took the series in Game 7 with an 11-7 victory following a 22-minute, all-or-nothing match.
The nail-biting final game saw the Sonics secure the championship thanks to two late-game kills by midlaner Francis Miguel “Super Frince” Ramirez, whose mastery of the Vexana hero delivered Fnatic Onic a critical 11-7 win. This victory earned the Sonics the top prize of $35,000, while Aurora took home the $20,000 second prize.
The intense series saw several momentum shifts, with Aurora fighting back in Games 5 and 6. In Game 5, Team Aurora turned the tables with a well-coordinated base destruction to edge out Fnatic 9-7 at the 14:53 mark. In Game 6, Jonard Cedric “Demonkite” Caranto delivered a late-game double kill with his Alpha fighter hero, leading Aurora to a narrow 13-11 win at 13:35, forcing the series into an electrifying Game 7.
Reflecting on the win, Sonics coach Anthony “Ynot” Senedrin spoke with pride and determination about the team’s future: “Sobrang emotional. Pero chapter 1 done. Onto the next, ESL Snapdragon and then M6. Dynasty habol natin eh,” Senedrin said, as they now set their sights on upcoming tournaments.
Fnatic Onic Philippines will next compete in the Esports League’s Snapdragon Pro Series Season 6 Asia Pacific Open finals on November 4. This event will serve as a stepping stone to the highly anticipated M6 World Championships next month, where they’ll face international competition with hopes of extending their reign.
The Sonics dominated the MPL regular season with 13 wins before their momentum was briefly halted by Blacklist International. Now, with the MPL Season 14 championship secured, Fnatic Onic Philippines is poised to continue making history on the international stage.
