PASAY, Philippines — The Phoenix soared across the Northern Lights, only to fade within its glow.
Top-seeded Aurora Gaming punished the costly overextension mistakes of TNC Pro Team in the decider to quench their upset hopes, 3–2, and finally seal the last upper bracket slot in MPL-PH S16 Playoffs at the Cuneta Astrodome on Thursday night.
Not once, but twice it happened where the Phoenix Army prolonged the crucial lord dances in game 5 that caused miscommunications, enabling the Auroras to mount a one-way push.
Game 5 MVP Kenneth Carl “Yue” Tadeo spearheaded the comeback with a flawless 3/0/8 performance on Cecilion, anchoring Aurora’s defense before leading the counterpunch that cracked the Phoenix Army’s final formation.
The turning point came at the 13-minute mark when Aurora secured the final Lord and marched through the bottom lane, wiping out TNC’s lineup to shatter their base in one sweeping charge.
Despite flashes of hail-mary plays from Mark “Zadia” Palma and Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog, TNC’s late-game coordination faltered under Aurora’s relentless discipline, ending their fiery campaign in the Upper Bracket.
“Together lang kami, nagtutulungan para sa pangarap ng bawat isa,” said Aurora’s roamer Dylan Aaron “Light” Catipon in post-game interview.
The series opened with Aurora dictating the pace in Game 1, as their disciplined rotations and clean objective setups quickly dismantled TNC’s defenses to seize the early series lead.
But the Phoenix Fire resisted in Game 2, with Zaida’s Lancelot (3/0/4) spearheading a methodical revenge run that burned through the midlane of Auroras, leveling the duel at 1–1 after an 18-minute command.
Aurora struck back in Game 3 behind Jan Dominic IV “Domengkite” Del Mundo’s explosive Granger (11/2/1), whose early Maniac tore through TNC’s backline to restore the Northern Lights’ lead, 2–1, after a 13–13 bloodbath of precision.
Refusing to fall, the Phoenix Army reignited in Game 4 led by Ch4knu’s redemption game on Khaleed (3/3/9), TNC clawed back from the brink and forced a decider.
By Game 5, both sides entered the Land of Dawn carrying momentum and exhaustion, but it was Aurora who displayed the colder nerve under fire.
With the victory, Aurora Gaming is advancing to the Upper Bracket Finals, setting up a highly anticipated clash against Team Liquid PH on Friday, October 24.
