MPL PH Season 16 Week 2 Recap

The second week of MPL Philippines Season 16 (August 29–31, 2025) delivered upsets, bounce-backs, and a first taste of defeat for the early frontrunners. Twisted Minds remained atop the standings (now 3–1) despite suffering their first loss. Aurora Gaming shocked everyone with a perfect 2-0 week after a winless opening, toppling both Team Liquid PH and ONIC PH. Team Liquid PH rebounded and handed Twisted Minds their first defeat, avoiding an early-season hole. Meanwhile, Team Falcons struggled mightily, and AP.Bren came up short in their lone series. Let’s break down Week 2, day by day.

Day 1: August 29

Match 1: AP.Bren vs ONIC Philippines

• Game 1: ONIC PH started aggressively, with Kirk’s Phoveus slicing through AP.Bren’s lineup for an early snowball. ONIC built a huge lead and closed the opener decisively.
• Game 2: AP.Bren tried to fight back, but Kelra’s Harith took over the game. His mobility and damage in team fights went unchecked, allowing ONIC to secure the sweep 2–0.

Match 2: Team Liquid PH vs Aurora Gaming

• Game 1: Aurora came out strong, as roamer Light orchestrated fights to put Team Liquid on the back foot. Domengkite’s Harith and Yue’s Kimmy dealt massive damage, giving Aurora a 1–0 lead.
• Game 2: Team Liquid answered with authority. Oheb’s Granger exploded for 5 kills, and the star-studded Liquid squad dominated the early game. With clean rotations and objective control, they cruised to a Game 2 win.
• Game 3: The decider was a thriller. KarlTzy’s Yi Sun-shin racked up 9 kills and seemed poised to carry Team Liquid. But Aurora held firm, and Domengkite’s Harith once again came up clutch. A late-game turnaround led Aurora to clinch the series 2–1.

Day 2: August 30

Match 1: TNC Pro Team vs Team Falcons

• Game 1: TNC grabbed a close opening win. BennyQT, now with TNC, piloted Granger to 7 kills, helping outlast Team Falcons in team fights.
• Game 2: Zaida’s Fanny and BennyQT’s Moskov proved too much for the Falcons. Zaida zipped around for highlight-reel kills, while BennyQT cleaned up fights. TNC dominated the game to complete the 2–0 sweep.

Match 2: Smart Omega vs Twisted Minds

• Game 1: Twisted Minds came out on fire. Nosia’s Moskov was untouchable, and Sionnn’s Kagura locked down Omega’s carries. Twisted Minds racked up 20 kills in a commanding opener.
• Game 2: Omega struck back in a high-octane second game. Netskie’s Karrie and Hadji’s Kagura each notched 7 kills as Omega fought aggressively to tie the series 1–1.
• Game 3: Twisted Minds regrouped and made quick work of Omega in the decider. They allowed only 2 kills, closing out the series 2–1 with a dominant finish.

Match 3: ONIC Philippines vs Aurora Gaming

• Game 1: Aurora continued their momentum with a narrow Game 1 win. Demonkite’s jungling and Yue’s mid-lane control gave Aurora the edge.
• Game 2: ONIC PH responded with a statement. Kelra’s aggressive play secured early kills, and ONIC’s map control never wavered as they tied the series.
• Game 3: Aurora held their nerve to complete the upset. With Demonkite and Yue making clutch plays, Aurora punished ONIC’s mistakes and took the decisive game.

Day 3: August 31

Match 1: Smart Omega vs Team Falcons

• Game 1: Omega looked sharp and methodical. Raizen dictated the pace, while Hadji’s Yve provided control in fights. Falcons had no answer as Omega took the win.
• Game 2: Falcons showed brief signs of life, but Omega’s discipline and experience came through. With veteran plays from Jeymz and company, Omega secured the 2–0 sweep.

Match 2: Team Liquid PH vs Twisted Minds

• Game 1: Team Liquid PH came prepared. Their coordinated engages and objective focus caught Twisted Minds off-guard. KarlTzy’s shot-calling was on point as Team Liquid took Game 1.
• Game 2: Twisted Minds tried to rally, but Team Liquid kept the momentum. Oheb and Sanji stepped up with clutch plays, continually picking off opponents. With a decisive Game 2 finish, Team Liquid completed the 2–0 sweep, snapping Twisted Minds’ unbeaten run.

Team Standings after Week 2

After two weeks of MPL PH Season 16, the standings are starting to show clear storylines. Twisted Minds remain on top with a 3–1 record, but their aura of invincibility is gone after Team Liquid PH handed them their first loss. This proves the league leaders can be challenged, opening the door for other contenders to close the gap.

ONIC PH and Aurora Gaming both sit at 2–1, but their trajectories could not be more different. ONIC stumbled against Aurora after a hot start, while Aurora rose from a winless Week 1 to become one of Week 2’s biggest surprises with back-to-back victories against two powerhouse squads.

The middle of the pack is crowded, with Smart Omega and Team Liquid PH both at 2–2. Both teams showed flashes of dominance, but consistency will be key if they want to break into the top tier. Meanwhile, TNC Pro Team and AP.Bren are holding at 1–2, still searching for stability to climb out of the lower half.

At the bottom, Team Falcons dropped to 1–3 after a rough week, showing early promise but struggling to keep up with the competition. Week 3 will be crucial as teams try to separate themselves in the standings.