FNATIC ONIC PH'S M6 run can only be described with only one word.
DOMINATION!
From the Swiss stage until the very end, FNOP was undefeated.
It didn't matter if the first few rounds offered a plethora of surprises given the multitude of potential dark horses and stunners (e.g. BTK), nor did it matter if they were up against the very best in the region (e.g. Selangor Red Giants, Falcon Esports, and Team Liquid ID), as the Filipinos ended up with a commanding 7-0 record in the entire tournament.
There was only one potential scare, which was against Myanmar's Falcon Esports, but the Filipino Hedgehogs managed to find a loophole in their gameplan, which ultimately led to their M6 exit, as Team Spirit dissected FNOP's strategy against Falcon.
And with a perfect record in their M6 journey, the question remains, who among the teams could give the defending MPL and M-series champs a run for their money?
During the M6 victory party held in Yes Please, BGC, Fnatic ONIC players specifically Duane "Kelra" Pillas, Jann "Kirk" Gutierrez, King "K1NGKONG" Perez revealed the one team who could've blemished FNOP's flawless record.
"Aurora" said the three Ks.
Bakit Aurora ang makakatalo sa FNOP?
The final game of the season could've actually ended in favor of the Northern Lights as Aurora also had the momentum at certain moments, however their progress was also matched by the Filipino Hedgehogs.
"Kita naman sa grand finals namin na sila talaga yung muntikan nang tumalo sa amin and maganda rin talaga yung chemistry nila e," (It was evident during the S14 grand finals that they could've beaten us, plus their chemistry is on point.) reiterated Kelra during the press conference.
Kirk would likewise add: "Para sa akin, during the grand finals, sila lang yung sumabay talaga. Parang natatalo nila kami e." (During the grand finals, they were able to match our level.)
What went wrong for Aurora in M6?
Given the outcome of the grand finals, perhaps Aurora could've been destined to cause problems for FNOP. However, that never materialized as the Northern Lights suffered from an early exit at the hands of M6 grand finalist, Team Liquid ID.
During an interview with MPL shoutcaster Dan "Leo" Cubangay, Kelra highlighted the key factor as to why Aurora couldn't live up to the expectations.
"Sa tingin ko hindi sila nakapag-adapt nang mabilis sa meta kase sa ML ngayon, lalo na sa M6, iba-iba yung meta e. Parang palakasan ng meta per team. Hindi yung kung ano yung OP na hero, yun yung gagamitin." (In my opinion, they weren't able to adapt quickly into the meta because in the modern game, especially in M6, the meta is different. Each team has their own meta, it's not just about who is the most overpowered hero.)
In the end, FNOP faced the team that eliminated Aurora, Team Liquid ID. The Filipino squad ended up dominating all three encounters, destroying the dreaded Angela + Ling combo during the Swiss stage, while showcasing their micro and macro mastery in both the upper bracket and grand finals.
Kelra was then asked during the victory party celebrations on which among the encounters was the hardest.
He bluntly said: "Wala!" (None)
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