Breaking the Curse
FINALLY, THE CURSE has been broken. The elusive trophy that has haunted the Hedgehogs has finally been secured.
Fnatic ONIC PH clinched the MPL Philippines Season 14 championship crown after defeating Aurora Gaming, 4-3, on Sunday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.
A Dominant Start
The series began with Onic showcasing their dominance, taking a 3-1 lead. However, Aurora mounted a comeback, forcing a decisive 7th game.
After a grueling 7-game slugfest, Duane “Kelra” Pillas was awarded the Finals MVP, marking his first MPL championship and ending his ‘uncrowned’ king status.
Game 1: Fnatic Onic’s Strategy Prevails
Aurora seemed to have the momentum early on, securing key pickoffs, including a wipeout in the initial stages of Game 1. Yet, during the first Lord fight, Fnatic Onic’s macro plays shone through.
Renejay “Renejay” Barcarse’s strong crowd control forced Borris “Brusko” James Parro to make risky plays, leading to Renejay’s demise. However, this sacrifice allowed Onic to create space for their team to engage effectively.
Jann “Kirk” Solcruz Gutierrez utilized his Arlott, while Kelra wreaked havoc with his Lunox pick. King “K1NGKONG” Cyric Perez delivered the finishing blows with his Suyou, leading Onic to a Game 1 victory.
Game 2: K1NGKONG’s Backdoor Play
K1NGKONG continued to shine, executing a backdoor play with Suyou that sealed Fnatic’s victory in Game 2. His Fanny also caused significant issues for Aurora in Game 3.
Aurora’s Resilience
Despite Fnatic ONIC’s momentum, Aurora Gaming staged a comeback in Game 3. Pushed against the wall, Aurora turned the tides in their favor after a successful Lord contention at the 13-minute mark.
Both teams displayed scrappy defense and mental fortitude, but Aurora took control of Fnatic’s jungle, denying K1NGKONG’s Ling access to his purple buff.
One Step Closer to the Title
Fnatic ONIC sought revenge in Game 4, inching closer to the MPL Philippines Season 14 title. They showcased discipline, conceding only one death until a nearly 10-minute skirmish near the Lord objective.
Kelra, playing Harith, exploded with a triple kill during the 15-minute base siege, leading to a stunning wipeout against Aurora and securing match point for Fnatic.
Aurora’s Epic Comeback
In Game 5, Aurora displayed remarkable resilience, pulling off another comeback against Fnatic ONIC. Although Fnatic had the upper hand early on, Aurora reached their power spike in the late game with a Cecillion pick.
Despite Fnatic securing the Lord objective at the 14-minute mark, Aurora capitalized on a window of opportunity, eliminating three members of the Sonic squad and forcing a base siege to save another match point.
Forcing Game 7
As the series progressed, Aurora pushed for a final game, winning crucial Lord fights. It was challenging for Onic to engage against Aurora’s Alpha-Harith combo in Game 6, leading to the decisive Game 7.
With Aurora seemingly having the momentum after two straight wins, early clashes suggested they might pull off a miracle. However, Kelra stepped up at critical moments, turning the tide with key kills, supported by clutch plays from Kirk and Frince “Super Frince” Ramirez.
A Nail-Biting Finale
The final game was a nail-biter, but in the end, Fnatic Onic prevailed. The days of Onic suffering defeat in the finals are gone as they have finally slain their demons.