They say fire can forge champions — but on this night, the Cavalry’s water proved stronger, crashing down to drown the flames of the Phoenix Army.
Team Liquid Philippines displayed dominance as they overpowered TNC Pro Team with a 4-1 finish in the MPL-PH Season 16 Lower Bracket Finals on October 25 at the Cuneta Astrodome to secure a spot in the Grand Finals and return to the world stage.
After a 1-1 deadlock, TLPH never looked back and took all the following matches against TNC, denying their “Cinderella run” and arranging a best-of-seven finale with Aurora Gaming, who qualified alongside them for the M7 World Championship in Indonesia.
The return to Indonesia carries a poetic weight for Liquid PH, as the nation was home to the famed M4 “ECHO Express” that ruled the tournament and delivered the organization’s first world title two years ago.
Also, the Cavalry moved a step closer to completing the elusive MLBB Golden Road, staying alive in their bid to capture two MPL crowns, one MSC title, and an M-Series championship in a single year after earlier winning MPL-PH Season 15 and MSC 2025.
TLPH struck first on the back of Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya, who pressured TNC’s backline with his Lapu-Lapu repeatedly to open space for Karl Gabriel “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno and Kiel "Oheb" Soriano, eventually smashing the crystal off a clean final push to take a 1-0 series lead.
TNC answered in Game 2 as Justine “Zaida” Palma unleashed his signature Fanny, punishing early rotations to secure objectives, and with Frederic “Bennyqt” Gonzales’ Bane exploding in the 19-minute Lord fight, scoring a triple kill and leveling the series.
But Team Liquid PH regrouped in Game 3, where Sanford once again took over — this time on Arlott — as he landed a stunning four-man Final Slash in a crucial mid-game clash, setting up three instant kills and a Lord siege that restored Liquid’s advantage, 2-1.
Game 4 saw TNC momentarily spark hope after Lance “LanceCy” Cunanan’s Lunox triple kill punished a Liquid overextension, but the Cavalry reset quickly, secured the Lord at 13 minutes, and closed the game behind Jaypee “Jaypee” Dela Cruz’s Gatotkaca to move to match point.
Then Game 5 came — and destiny was written right in the draft when KarlTzy locked in his signature Lancelot while Jaypee secured his Chip, giving Liquid comfort and map control from the get-go.
Even after a mid-game wipeout by the Phoenix Army, the Cavalry held steady, claimed the next Lord, and forced the final base crash that ended the series.
With TNC now behind them, Liquid PH turns its focus to Aurora as they will lock horns in the season finale on Sunday, October 26 at 6 p.m.
via Dason Stephan G. Sailadin
