FNATIC ONIC Philippines has been crowned as the MPL Philippines Season 14 champion after outlasting Aurora Gaming in a grueling Grand Finals showdown last Sunday, and Finals MVP Duane “Kelra” Pillas could not contain his emotions as memories and heartbreaks from the previous seasons came flooding back.
Against all odds and rewriting his story, the stars have aligned for Kelra to finally be an MPL champion. As the crowd went wild and confetti fell to the ground in the MPL arena, Kelra’s tears overflowed as he stood in the moment his dreams became a reality.
“Tapos pagkapanalo, naiyak talaga ako. Kasi parang 'di pala ‘yung totoo na curse na ganun. Tsaka akala ko mangyayari ulit ‘yung Blacklist na laban namin nung Season 7, 3-1, tapos na-comeback kami. Sobrang dami kasing pinagdaanan. Kaya sobrang naiyak talaga ako,” Kelra recalled.
Taking a trip down memory lane, Kelra debuted in the MPL Philippines with Execration in Season 7, where he came so close yet so far in winning the title after falling short against Blacklist International.
Along with Execration, Kelra has redeemed himself in the international stage, exacting revenge against Blacklist International in the MSC 2021 to clinch his first-ever championship title.
Finding the drive to keep going
Aurora forced a dramatic game seven against Fnatic ONIC Philippines, and with the championship hanging by a thread, Kelra admitted that doubts crept in about whether the MPL title was truly his destiny.
“’Yung tumatakbo sa isip ko nun kasi akala ko hindi talaga para sa akin yung championship,” Kelra revealed.
“Kumbaga diba dapat tapos na namin nung Game 5 palang, bugbog na yung Aurora, tapos na-comeback kami tapos naka-comeback ulit kami nung pangalawang game. Kumbaga, tumatakbo sa isip ko talaga nun may curse ba? May curse ba yung MPL sa akin?” he added.
Love conquers all, as the saying goes, and Kelra got the best buff he could get from his loved ones.
“Sinusuportahan nila ako sa pagpunta dito sa venue, sa pagkumusta sa health, kung anong iniisip ko palagi, mindset ko. Sinabi nila na “Ito na yung pangarap mo, huwag mo sayangin, once in a lifetime lang ito,” Kelra revealed, getting much-needed support before heading to the Grand Finals.
When asked what he would say to his younger self, Kelra opened up without hesitation.
“Masasabi ko lang, dapat maaga ko na realize yung mga bagay. Dapat inayos ko agad yung ugali ko dati pa lang kung paano ako kumilos and paano ako makipagusap sa mga tao,” Kelra said.
Kelra has a chance to etch his name in history on the road to the M6 World Championships, potentially becoming the first Filipino to win the MPL Philippines, MSC, and M-Series titles.
Fnatic ONIC Philippines proved that they are the “Super Family” for a reason; they may not be related by blood but rather intertwined by fate to take home the MPL Philippines Season 14 title.
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