By: Jerod Orcullo
Aurora seized sole control of the top spot in MPL Philippines Season 15 after pulling off a 2-1 reverse sweep against Team Liquid in the first match of Week 4 Day 2, Saturday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati.
With both teams putting their undefeated records on the line, Aurora head coach Aniel “Master the Basics” Jiandani chose to double down on his strategy, entrusting Estes to lead the squad to victory.
In the hands of Renejay “Renejay” Bacarse, “The Hitman” transformed into “The Healman,” finishing with 15 assists and just one death. His timely use of Blessing of the Moon Goddess allowed Aurora to outlast Team Liquid’s pick-off attempts en route to the series-clinching win.
During the post-game interview, Master the Basics revealed that Estes had long been part of Aurora’s playbook, joking that he had been waiting for Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna’s aura to take over Renejay.
“Yung Estes na ‘yun matagal na talaga naming baon, hindi lang namin mailabas. Kasi hinihintay ko na sumanib yung aura ni Vee kay Renejay. So kanina, naramdaman ko eh, sabi niya, ‘Coach, eto na yun, eto na yung hinihintay natin’ kaya pinasok namin,” he said.
Aurora was on the brink of a sweep loss after Team Liquid managed to limit Cedrix “Demonkite” Caranto’s Hayabusa farm early in Game 2. However, Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo’s Cecilion scaled effectively despite TLPH’s constant pressure. His late-game dominance turned the tide, leading to a crucial squad wipe at the 10:42 mark to force a deciding Game 3.
Team Liquid came out strong in the series opener, with Alston “Sanji” Pabico putting on a masterclass with Pharsa. He recorded six kills and six assists in 16 minutes and 15 seconds of action, setting the tone for his squad.
Aurora now looks to close out its first leg of the tournament on a high note as it takes on Team Falcons this Sunday at 7:30 PM at the same venue.
Meanwhile, TLPH wrapped up its first-round campaign with the loss. The Cavalry will return to action next Saturday, March 29, also against Team Falcons.
