By: Jerod Orcullo
In the three weeks that have passed in MPL Philippines Season 15, several teams have emerged as legitimate title contenders.
Among them, Team Liquid Philippines, Aurora Gaming, and Team Falcons currently dominate the tournament’s top three seeds.
Surprisingly, through their first six games, ONIC Philippines has managed only two wins against four losses — a stark contrast to the team’s dominating performance last season, where they finished just one win shy of a regular season sweep.
Historically, a slow start to the regular season has been a pattern seen in several MPL PH champions following their title runs.
On Facebook, fans and supporters of the “Super Family” have begun referring to ONIC’s current struggles as the “champion’s curse.”
The term “champion’s curse,” or “winner’s curse,” is commonly used in major sports like football to describe how teams tend to underperform in the season or tournament following their championship win.
So, is ONIC’s sub-par start truly the result of a champion’s curse? Or is it merely a coincidence, given the competitive landscape of the Philippine MLBB scene?
When asked about this, ONIC head coach Anthony “Ynot” Senedrin acknowledged that the notion of a “curse” could be possible. However, he also emphasized that mindset plays a major role in a team’s struggles.
“I wouldn’t say coincidence. I think sa mindset kasi eh, and it can really happen. Pero ayun nga kasi nasa sa’min if we succumb sa sinasabi nga nilang curse. Kasi parang ang pangit kasi nung term for me to hear, pero it happens, not just in e-sports, in sports as well,” he stated.
(C) MPL PH
Ynot further explained that ONIC’s struggles may not entirely stem from internal issues but also from the continuous improvement of the other nine teams in the league.
“It’s a mix of both, to be honest. Ayun nga eh, as a champion team we have to be better than our champion-selves or yung former selves namin. So unfortunately, hindi pa namin nagagawa yun. It’s something that we have to work on,” said Ynot.
“Kudos sa mga teams ngayon, especially yung mga teams na nakatalo sa’min, kasi obviously, sinulit talaga nila yung oras ng preparation nila. Kitang-kita mo din yung growth ng mga laro nila since last season.”
A former MPL PH player himself, Ynot revealed that the team remains optimistic. They are determined to regain their form and even improve as the tournament progresses.
“I think something na napag-usapan namin, there’s no way but up. Kumbaga, pataas na lang eh, pataas na lang yung gusto naming maabot. So on a daily basis, whatever we do, we’ll make sure na pataas yung trajectory namin,” he said.
“Yung gigil, definitely, expect na babawi’t babawi talaga kami.”
ONIC now has two matches remaining in the first round of the season. They will face Smart Omega in the second match of Week 4 Day 2.
On March 22, they go head-to-head against Twisted Minds at 5:00 PM at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati.
