Team Liquid PH clinched their second title in three seasons after an incredible lower bracket run, capping it off with a thrilling 4-3 victory over defending champions ONIC Philippines in the grand finals of MPL Philippines Season 15 on Sunday at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.
Coach Rodel “Ar Sy” B. Cruz credited his players’ trust in his draft approach in Game 7, which proved to be the championship-winning recipe.
“After ng Game 6, binigay ulit sa’kin ng players yung spot na mag-decide kung first pick or second pick (kami sa drafting). Sobrang pinag-isipan ko kasi di ako sumama sa kanila papunta sa restroom. Iniisip ko kung uulitin namin yung pag-pick ng Lou Yi, tapos there’s a chance na di nila ipi-pick yung Chip, mapupunta sa’min yung dalawang heroes na sobrang counter pati yung galaw,” recalled Arsy.
“And nag-agree naman sila dun at napagana namin. Kasi lahat nung five heroes na yun, talagang yun at yun lang ang ginagamit namin sa scrim. Inisip namin na sobrang lakas namin dun sa line up.”
(C) MPL PH
With the series tied at 2-2, ONIC appeared poised to reach match point after Borris “Brusko” Parro’s (Chip) well-timed Shortcut in the 26th minute led to a successful ambush on Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno (Fredrinn).
But Alston “Sanji” Pabico (Lou Yi) responded with TLPH’s signature Diversion play into the midlane, catching ONIC off guard and setting up a decisive base turret siege that pushed the defending champions to the brink.
In Game 6, ONIC leveled the series thanks to Brusko’s Chou and Frince “Super Frince” Ramirez’ Selena, who provided pickoffs after pickoffs in a dominating performance.
In the winner-take-all Game 7, Team Liquid PH found a way to secure the Lou Yi and Chip picks in the first phase of the draft that they used to the fullest.
That strategy shut down Duane “Kelra” Pillas (Harith) from the early game and slowly chipped away ONIC’s map control to comfortably clinch the championship.
Sanji bagged the finals MVP award for his stellar performance throughout the seven-game series.
It was Team Liquid’s second MPL PH title in franchise history, and the trio of KarlTzy, Sanji, and Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya are now gunning for their third straight MSC appearance.
