ONIC PH (ONIC) kicked off their MPL Season 17 campaign after squeaking past Twisted Minds PH (TWIS) to stage a hard-fought 2-1 triumph inside the Victoria Sports Tower on March 20.
The ONIC aces escaped a midway TWIS surge after capitalizing on a second Lord in Game 3 that their foes could not fend off to ultimately notch the narrow triumph.
K1NGKONG set the pace with Suyou right from the get-go and secured first blood with support from Indonesian import Savero to give ONIC an early advantage.
TWIS bounced back as Lansu’s Phoveus led the pack and dismantled ONIC’s backline, which briefly shifted momentum to the former at 4-3.
But Savero’s clutch plays on Yi Sun Shin, followed by a crucial triple kill at the 28-minute mark, tilted the favor back to the ONIC standouts.
With coordinated rotations and strategic decision-making, ONIC then took the fifth Lord dance after a back-and-forth affair to eventually secure Game 1 at 9-10.
“Wala siyang [Savero] pinagkaiba sa mga magagaling na Pinoy gold laners,” said Twisted Mind’s Head Coach, Bon Chan, on Savero’s debut.
Yet TWIS regrouped in the second as Caloy’s Khaleed and Sionnn’s Valentina eliminated ONIC’s key players, snatching the first Lord to take control of the match.
However, ONIC fought back behind Savero’s Moskov plays and K1NGKONG’s Suyou support, but TWIS breached their defenses in the third Lord dance to win 21-12 and force a 1-1 tie in the series.
The decider saw TWIS take an early 3-0 lead, but ONIC responded through Savero’s calculated plays and K1NGKONG’s aggressive rotations.
The first Lord dance was pivotal, with K1NGKONG completing a swift double kill to give ONIC a 9-7 buffer.
Maintaining their upswing, Brusko then executed three TWIS foes through his Gatotkaca, allowing them to rule another Lord dance to widen their edge at 12-9.
TWIS attempted to defend the second Lord, but ONIC’s relentless push ultimately toppled their base, sealing the latter’s deal in a 15-11 cushion.
ONIC PH will next face Team Falcons PH (FLCN) on March 22, while Twisted Minds PH is set to clash with Team Liquid PH (TLPH) at the same venue on March 21.
Written by Althea Faith Del Rosario, Insight PH
Althea Faith Del Rosario, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
