Aurora Gaming takes down Team Falcons to clinch MPL Philippines Season 18 crown

MANILA, October 27 ------ Aurora Gaming PH (RORA) claimed the MPL Philippines Season 18 title after dispatching Team Falcons PH (FLCN), 4-2, in grand finals at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The Northern Lights secured the final three games of the best-of-seven series to claim the league crown, capping their championship run with a dominant Game 6 performance led by Jan Dominic “Domeng” and Nathanael “Nathzz” Estrologo. Domeng secured the Finals MVP after putting up steady plays for the team.

RORA set the tone in Game 1 through Kyle “Koyl” Reyes’ control of the Turtle and Lord objectives, allowing the Northern Lights to dictate the pace despite FLCN’s attempts to fight back. The Falcons briefly found room to recover after picking off Domeng in the top lane and taking down the outer turret’s but RORA answered with a series of successful engagements.

After securing the second Lord, RORA pushed through the mid lane and wiped out FLCN to take the opener, 14-7, while building an 8,000-gold advantage. FLCN responded in Game 2 as Michael “Kyle” Sayson repeatedly invaded the opposing jungle and secured key objectives. Salik “Hadji” Imam’s Zhuxin also proved instrumental in turning team fights in the Falcons’ favor, helping them wipe out RORA and even the series at 1-1.

The Falcons carried the momentum into Game 3, capitalizing on RORA’s early mistakes and securing crucial objectives. Although Koyl repeatedly secured the Lord and Domeng’s split-pushing kept the game competitive, FLCN eventually broke through the bottom lane to claim a 2-1 series lead. Facing a potential championship-clinching loss, RORA answered with a commanding Game 4 performance.

The Northern Lights controlled the objectives and punished FLCN’s engagements, with Nathzz landing a crucial Barats ultimate to eliminate Kyle. Domeng then supplied the damage needed to dismantle the Falcons’ defenses and close out the game. RORA limited FLCN to just two kills while recording an 11-2 advantage, finishing with more than 37,000 gold against the Falcons’ 28,300 to level the series at 2-2.

Game 5 turned into a back-and-fourth contest, with both teams locked at 12 kills apiece at the nine-minute mark. Kyle came close to completing a Maniac during the first Lord fight before being shut down, leading to a four-for-four exchange. RORA eventually gained the upper hand in the next Lord engagement, with Koyl securing a triple kill as the Northern Lights wiped out FLCN and pushed through the top lane to move within one win of the title.

RORA left little room for a Falcons comeback in Game 6, with Nathzz repeatedly initiating favorable engagements and Domeng delivering the finishing blows. The Northern Lights punished FLCN’s attempts to engage, taking a four-for-one exchange before Domeng unleashed a triple kill in another decisive clash.

Domeng continued to tear through the Falcons’ lineup, adding a double kill before reaching Godlike and eventually Legendary status as RORA stormed the base to seal the series 4-2 victory. The championship capped RORA’s playoff campaign with three consecutive wins after falling behind, 1-2, and sent the Northern Lights back to the international stage.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com