I had to lower my expectations so it wouldn’t hurt as much:” Coach MTB

Aurora Gaming PH proved the doubters wrong after a hard-fought 4-2 victory against Team Falcons PH in the MPL PH Season 18 Playoffs. The team had a rough journey in the regular season, further adding skepticism to their performance in the playoffs. They even lost to Team Falcons in the Upper Bracket Final, forcing them to claw their way back up from the lower bracket. The surprise came in the grand finals, where they managed to get revenge on Team Falcons and win the trophy.

However, the fight is far from over. Both Aurora Gaming PH and Team Falcons PH will represent the Philippines in the upcoming M8 World Championship to be held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Table of contents

• Coach MTB assesses Aurora Gaming PH’s performance in MPL PH Season 18
• MPL PH S18: Aurora vs Falcons match recap
• Aurora Gaming PH will defend title in the M8 World Championship

Coach MTB assesses Aurora Gaming PH’s performance in MPL PH Season 18

After the team’s subpar performance in the Regular Season, a lot of skeptics claimed Aurora Gaming PH would not make it far in the playoffs. However, the team proved their doubters wrong. The team emerged as the crowned champions and is on its way to defend its World Series title.

In a post-match press interview, Aniel “Master the Basics” Jiandani (MTB) shared that he did not expect his team to perform this well in the grand finals. 

“I never gave it a thought that we would make it this far,” he said. “I had to lower my expectations so it wouldn’t hurt as much, whatever happens.”

Believing the team is destined for more, he added that raising his expectations would allow the team to reach its full potential.

MPL PH S18: Aurora vs Falcons match recap

Game 1 saw both teams going for a Fighter Gold Lane team composition. Aurora drafted a teamfight-focused lineup, with Jan “Domeng” Delmundo going for a Chou pick. Meanwhile, Falcons had a burst team, with Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano going for a Cici pick. While Falcons tried their best, Aurora took control of teamfights, eventually giving them the opening win.

The second match saw Falcons draft a surprise Michael “Kyle” Sayson Saber pick with a classic marksman Gold Lane. This proved to be a good choice as they scored major objectives, and SuperMarco was on his comfort pick, helping them claim the Game 2 victory and even the series. This was followed by another win in Game 3, giving them the lead in the best-of-seven (Bo7) series.

Aurora pulled off a surprise draft with an unconventional Estes Mid Lane with Kimmy on the Gold Lane. With a massive healer support on the team, Falcons wasn’t able to match their sustain in teamfights, giving Aurora the win. 

With the formula working, Aurora continued with their heavy sustain team composition. This allowed them to secure two more wins and close the series with a 4-2 score.

Aurora Gaming PH will defend title in the M8 World Championship

Aurora Gaming PH, along with Team Falcons PH, will represent the Philippines in the upcoming M8 World Championship. The main event will kick off on Dec. 17. The tournament will feature 16 teams from various regions competing for the World Champion title.