Onic Philippines eliminated TNC Pro Team from the playoff by way of a 2-0 sweep in the penultimate week of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 11 at the Shooting Gallery Studios in Makati on Saturday.
With the win, Onic managed to leapfrog Smart Omega for the fifth spot in the standings after improving to 16pts going into their last season match against Bren Esports in Week 8.
The win was a welcome development for head coach Kevin “Bluffzy” Reyes as they not only boosted their playoff chances, but they also ended their run of futility against TNC since Season 9.
“Way back Season 10 and then ngayong Season 11, pang-apat na beses na naming maghaharap and never pa kaming nanalo talaga sa kanila ever since. So sobrang siguro gaan lang din sa pakiramdam. Sobrang saya sa pakiramdam lalo na dun sa mga bata na naovercome talaga nila yung bagay na laging pumigil sa kanila parang ganun, which is yung TNC,” he said.
In Game 1, Onic took control after a close early game when they scored two pick-offs during the 9th-minute lord fight courtesy of Nowie “Ryota” Macasa’s (Arlott) exploits.
Ryota then delivered a two-man Final Slash set-up in the 13th minute resulting in a 4-0 wipe that helped Onic secure the opening win, 1-0. He took the match MVP honors with a 3-1-7 KDA.
Onic then mounted a comeback in Game 2 after Jefferdson “Kekedot” Mogol’s (Lolita) conceal play in the 24th minute caught an out-of-position John Vincent “Innocent” Banal (Lesley) leading to a pick-off and the evolved lord take.
The Hedgehogs wasted no time from there and sealed the win in the ensuing lord march onto the enemy base.
Bluffzy’s pep talk last night also served as a springboard for the team as they stopped TNC’s momentum and went on a tear after wins over league-leading Bren Esports and reigning world champions Echo.
“Kagabi habang nag-uusap kami pagkatapos nung scrim namin, ang sinasabi ko lang sa kanila is ‘Kung nakamomentum yung TNC, tingin ko naman nakamomentum din tayo.’….kasi natapos ko after nung match namin actually sa Echo then nung match namin sa NXPE, it seems like mas naging malinis at mas naging maganda yung laro namin,” recalled the coach.
“Sinabi ko sa kanila: ‘Hindi natin kailangan intindihan na madaming tinalo yung TNC. Ang intindihin natin yung laro natin. Magfocus tayo sa laro natin. And at the same time, ang imindset lang natin isa na to sa pinakamahalagang laro natin sa buhay natin. Actually sa career natin.”
