Under fire was ONIC PH heading into MPL Philippines Season 10.
Everything started when the organization decided to break the core team that brought ONIC PH to the grand finals of the M3 World Championships.
When the dust settled, only one player was left from the star-studded roster.
Coach Denver “Yeb” Miranda, along with superstar jungler Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol, started the exodus and headed to the organization’s mother club ONIC Esports while the rest of the team went to different parts of Southeast Asia.
(C) Moonton
Gerald “Dlar” Trinchera (EVOS Legends), the undisputed franchise player of ONIC PH, along with Allen “Baloyskie” Baloy (Geek Fam), and Marky “Markyyyyy” Capacio (Bigetron Alpha) joined Kairi and coach Yeb in MPL Indonesia.
Jaylord “Hate” Gonzales, meanwhile, flew to Malaysia and joined Team SMG while Mico “Micophobia” Quitlong stayed in the Philippines and signed with Nexplay EVOS.
The core that went to the MPL Philippines Season Eight finals and the M3 World Championship finale collapsed in just a snap.
And that definitely put a massive amount of unwanted pressure on Monster Anarchy – the amateur team that replaced the famed ONIC PH roster for the MPL Philippines Season 10.
“Lahat kami na-pressure nun kasi grabe yung pinalitan namin e, sobrang taas (ng na-achieve). Marami ring bashers, minamaliit kami,” said newly-minted ONIC PH captain Ralph “Rapidoot” Adrales.
Coming in as rookies in the MPL Philippines – without a doubt the most competitive league in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang professional scene – already puts an enormous weight on your shoulders. What more if you’re replacing a well-loved team that placed second in the world championships?
“Oo, underdog kami pero gusto naming ipakita sa kanila na may ibubuga kami dahil doon sa mga bashers,” said Rapidoot.
“Tapos nga pinalitan namin yung mga (dating) players ng ONIC PH, gigil kami lahat. Gigil kaming manalo, gigil kaming maglaro, ayun,” he added.
Using that as motivation, Rapidoot and the new-look ONIC PH made sure to introduce themselves in the best way possible – a thrilling, come-from-behind win.
A few moments away from defeat, Rapidoot delivered a four-man Fatal Links against Bren Esports – who was already trying to take down ONIC PH’s base – to help the team score a four-man wipe in Game Three which led to a 2-1 opening day victory.
(C) MPL PH
“Nag-antay lang talaga ako ng timing. Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam ng comeback na yun,” recalled Rapidoot.
The 23-year-old roamer said that the play was definitely a huge confidence booster for him. And he hopes that that performance was enough to silence the team’s doubters moving forward.
“Sobrang laking bagay kasi first time e tapos ganun yung mangyayari, biglang comeback. Ang hirap gawin nun sa MPL talaga e. So ayun, sarap sa pakiramdam.”
