By: Jan Marcus Montevirgen
ONIC Philippines and Aurora capped off their Snapdragon Pro Series Season 6 APAC – Challenge Season campaigns in spectacular fashion, earning tickets to Malaysia for the Challenge Finals.
Reigning MPL Philippines and world champions ONIC Philippines delivered a stellar performance in the group stage.
They were the first team to secure a Challenge Finals berth, dominating Group A with an impeccable 2-0 record.
ONIC swept both EVOS Glory and Blacklist International with identical 2-0 victories, asserting their dominance in the competition.
Aurora, meanwhile, had to navigate a more arduous path to qualification. The team began strong in Group D, finishing second with a 2-1 record.
However, their journey to the next stage was secured through the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).
(C) MOONTON Games
In Group D, Aurora triumphed over TODAK twice—first in the opening match and again in the Decider match—despite a 1-2 loss to Bigetron Alpha in their second game.
During the LCQ, Aurora showcased resilience against tough competition.
The MPL Philippines Season 14 runners-up defeated Blacklist International and Team Liquid Indonesia, securing identical 2-1 victories over both teams on Sunday to clinch their place in the Challenge Finals.
For Blacklist International, the ESL Challenge Season was bittersweet. They impressed in the group stage with 2-1 wins against Lazy Esports and EVOS Esports.
However, they fell short in the LCQ, losing to Aurora and Alter Ego, both with 1-2 results.
Team Liquid Philippines (TLPH) and Lazy Esports exited the tournament early, concluding their campaigns in the group stage.
TLPH managed a 2-0 sweep over RSG Singapore but faltered against RRQ Hoshi (1-2) and Alter Ego (0-2) in the Decider match.
Meanwhile, Lazy Esports, the reigning MDL Philippines champions, struggled to find their footing, suffering 1-2 losses to Blacklist International and EVOS Glory.
The Challenge Finals, scheduled from February 10 to 16, will feature ONIC Philippines and Aurora, along with fellow Filipino representatives Falcons AP.Bren.
