Kiel “Oheb” Soriano delivered multiple MVP-worthy performances to power Team Liquid PH to a thrilling 3-2 reverse sweep over Team Falcons, clinching a slot in the upper bracket finals of the MPL Philippines Season 15 playoffs on Thursday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.
It was a statement win for Team Liquid PH, who avenged their heartbreaking reverse sweep loss to the same squad during the Sibol National Team selection finals.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, what if gawin natin yung ginawa nila sa’tin? So ire-reverse sweep natin sila para ma-feel nila kung ano yung naramdaman namin nung Sibol,” recalled TLPH head coach Rodel “Ar Sy” Cruz, referring to the team talk he gave when they were down 0-2.
Coach Ar Sy added that it was Alston “Sanji” Pabico’s rallying call that sparked their massive turnaround.
“Nag-uusap-usap na kami nun eh after Game 2. Sabi ko sa kanila, burahin nila yung nangyari nung Game 1 and Game 2. Sabi ko, best-of-1 mindset lang. Tapos nag-call si Sanji: ‘Tiwala lang, pre, sa isa’t isa, kasi kailangan natin tatluhin ’to. Isang panalo lang, dire-diretso na natin ’to’,” he added.
After dropping the first two games and falling to match point, Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno ignited the comeback with a dominant performance on Hayabusa in Game 3. He posted a perfect 6-0-6 KDA in a clean 14-minute victory to keep Team Liquid PH alive.
In Game 4, the Season 13 champions capitalized on a critical overextension by FlapTzy during a tense 20th-minute Lord clash. They turned the misstep into two crucial pickoffs and secured the Lord, pushing the series to a deciding fifth game.
Riding their regained momentum, Team Liquid PH clawed back from an early-game deficit in Game 5 and completed the reverse sweep in dramatic fashion.
Oheb, who used Granger in the decider, once again earned MVP honors with a stellar 9-2-4 KDA performance to close out the series.
With the victory, Team Liquid PH advances to the upper bracket finals, where they will face ONIC Philippines for a chance to claim the first Philippine ticket to the MSC 2025, set to be held in Saudi Arabia this July.
