MPL Philippines: Team Liquid ousts TNC to seize M7 berth
MANILA, Philippines — Team Liquid Philippines is one match away from defending its Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines crown as it took down TNC Pro Team, 4-1, in the Season 16 lower bracket finals.
Team Liquid had earlier broken its curse of an early playoffs exit during even numbered seasons by defeating Team Falcons Philippines and had ridden the winning momentum with its sweep of ONIC Philippines. But the Cavalry fell to the Lower Brackets as Aurora was able to stop its stampede in the upper brackets with a 1-3 series win.
The Phoenix Army, on the other hand, have played three consecutive five-game match-ups. They survived Twisted Minds then succumbed to Aurora, 2-3, in the upper bracket and finally pulling off the upset of the season with a 3-2 victory over M6 world champion, ONIC Philippines.
Team Liquid set the tone of the matchup with a quick Game 1 victory thanks to Sanford "Sanford" Vinuya, whose key plays on the hero Lapu-Lapu earned him the game MVP honors.
TNC took the driver seat in Game 2, taking a dominant 9-0 lead in the early to mid-game. Though the Cavalry was able to defend against the Phoenix Army's base siege, the early lead was enough to power them through the game and to tie the series.
Knowing the resilience of their enemies, Team Liquid shifted strategies, focusing on the early games with their drafts. Game 3 saw Vinuya and Alston "Sanji" Pabico secure key pick-offs to take the series lead, while Game 4 saw another early game advantage on the side of the Cavalry thanks to Kiel "Oheb" Soriano's Granger and Jaypee "Jaypee" Dela Cruz's Gatotkaca, taking a dominant 20-8 victory and move them to match point.
TNC's Claude pick for goldlaner, Frederic "Bennyqt" Gonzales, seemed to be the answer in Game 5 as though Team Liquid Philippines once again took an early game lead but by the first lord, the Phoenix Army seemed ready to fight back.
But a costly miscalculation by the lord and at the bottom lane defense, saw TNC scrambling to try and prolong the series only for Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno and his signature Lancelot to dash their hopes and take the series, 4-1.
The win not only set up a rematch between Team Liquid Philippines and Aurora, but also qualified the Cavalry to the M7 World Championship.
Though falling short of a top two finish, TNC Pro Team repeated its best finish, having placed third back in Season 9 while subsequent editions had seen the Phoenix Army falling short of the playoffs from Seasons 10-14.
Season 16 ends Sunday, with the best-of-seven grand finals between Aurora and Team Liquid beginning at 5 p.m.
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