Team Liquid, Aurora lead MPL Philippines Season 15 playoff cast

Team Liquid reverted to its old winning ways as it emerged as the top-seeded club ahead of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 15 playoffs later this month. 

The Cavalry, whose core once reigned supreme in the local scene during Season 11 and Season 13 and later dominated the M4 World Championship in 2023, closed the regular season with a commanding 12-2 win-loss record. 

Leading the charge were veteran jungler Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno and new gold laner Kiel "Oheb" Soriano—and they did it in statement fashion.

Team Liquid pulled off a 2-0 sweep win against a fellow powerhouse club in Aurora during their final regular season assignment last May 3 with both KarlTzy and Oheb showing the way. 

KarlTzy unloaded four kills and 13 assists in Game 1 on his Lukas while Oheb, former Blacklist International star, dropped a spotless 6/0/7 KDA  in Game 2 on Harith. 

With the win, Team Liquid is through to the upper bracket semis and is awaiting the winner between third seed Onic Philippines and sixth seed Twisted Minds.

"Para sa akin, nakita ko talaga 'yung disiplina nila and nagkaisa sila sa mga calls, decision-making, [at] execution. Na-maintain nila kung paano kami naglaro kahapon," TLPH head coach Rodel "Ar Sy" Cruz said of their win. 

Meanwhile, Aurora still ended up in second place with an identical 12-2 slate and will take on whoever wins the game between Team Falcons and TNC. 

"Maganda naman 'yung pinakita [ng team], sadyang mas maganda lang din talaga 'yung ginawa ng TLP, specially nu'ng Game 1 na nakabawi sila," Aurora head coach Aniel "MasterTheBasics" Jiandani said. 

"Kailangan pa namin na mas pulido pa 'yung mga strats namin."

—JKC, GMA Integrated News