THE road to redemption for two teams looking to break out o the cellar begins now.
Smart Omega and AP.Bren unveiled new rosters on February 22 ahead of MPL Philippines Season 17 — each banking on returning stars and hungry reinforcements to rewrite their storylines.
Return of the King
The biggest storyline of AP.Bren’s roster reveal is the homecoming of Kiel “Kielvj” Hernandez.
Kielvj last saw action overseas with China’s DianFengYaoGuai in the MLBB Mid-Season Cup (MSC 2025), where they finished 13th–16th after falling to Singapore’s Team Flash. He went inactive in the competitive scene for a while, leaving many wondering when the seasoned pro would return?
That question was answered on Sunday.
Kielvj’s experience is invaluable for a team looking to bounce back from a disappointing Season 16 finish. AP.Bren ended its campaign in eighth place with a 4–10 win-loss record, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
“Para sa akin, ‘yung “captain” sobrang bigat na role. Dahil ako ‘yung naging captain, and hirap din mag-shotcall minsan. Kapag puro mali ka, ‘yung trust ng teammates mo, kahit sabihin na natin na may tiwala sila, kapag nagsabi ako baka mamaya may doubt na,” Kielvj said.
“Sa bawat shotcall ko, dapat tama, syempre ikaw pinagkakatiwalaan ng team. Kung may tanong sila, dapat masasagot ko ng tama. Outside the game, hindi pwede bara-bara, dapat mas matured ako,” he added.
The team also tapped Karl “Giee” Barrientos as its new head coach.
Giee worked with RSG Philippines in Seasons 9 and 10 before coaching Russia’s Insilio and later competing in MPL LATAM Season 4 under Influence Rage. He now returns to the Philippines armed with valuable international experience from his global coaching stint.
Coming off their overseas stints, Kielvj and Coach Giee are expected to bring new perspectives and tactical growth to AP.Bren.
The main roster stays mostly intact, reflecting AP.Bren’s confidence that the foundation was solid and simply required better direction and polish.
Jonathan “Jamespangks” Mendoza – Jungle
Jerry “chovskrt” Nicol – Roamer
Arvie “Aqua” Antonio – Mid lane
Denniel “xNova” Gomez – Roamer
Jan “shizou” Valdez – Gold lane
Jerome "Bom" Capulong – Assistant Coach
Smart Omega reloads with hungry talent
Meanwhile, Smart Omega is taking it up a notch in MPL Philippines Season 17 by opening doors for overlooked talents that deserve spotlight, adding former RRQ Kaito midlaner Karl “Minguin” Gallantes, and John “Perkz” Sumawan, previously the sixth man for Team Liquid PH.
Minguin last competed in MDL Philippines Season 6 with RRQ Kaito, finishing second in the developmental league. Now, he makes the biggest leap of his career, set to debut on the MPL stage as Smart Omega’s starting midlaner.
On Saturday evening, Smart Omega officially announced the departure of the midlaner Salic “Hadji” Imam, wishing him well in the next chapter of his professional career.
He steps into a high-pressure role, filling the shoes of veteran Hadji. Replacing a seasoned and accomplished playmaker is no small task, and Minguin will carry the responsibility of steering Omega’s tempo in the mid lane.
Perkz, on the other hand, transitions from a reserve role back into the main five.
He last played as a starter in MPL PH Season 14 with Blacklist International before becoming a sixth man for Team Liquid PH in Season 15 until the recently concluded M7 World Championship. His return to the spotlight presents a chance to reassert himself as a reliable presence on the MPL stage.
The rest of Smart Omega’s Season 17 roster features:
James “Jeymz” Gloria – EXP lane
Dean “Raizen” Sumagui – Jungle
Kenneth “Nets” Barro – Gold lane
Errol “Peuder” Aucena – Multirole
Hans "Wuraaaah" Solano – Head Coach
Lemuel "Lembot" Lucban – Assistant Coach
Coming off from a heartbreaking 7th p;ace finish last season, Smart Omega is now clearly aiming to rebuild its competitive identity and move past the underdog reputation.
Different stories, one mission: redemption
AP.Bren seeks to climb back into playoff contention after a bottom-tier finish. Smart Omega aims to regain its footing and reassert itself as a contender in a league that grows more competitive each season.
Kielvj returns to make the league remember the champion he is. Coach Gie brings lessons from coaching all over the world. Minguin steps into the biggest opportunity of his career. Perkz reclaims a spot in the starting lineup after working for some time behind closed doors.
In the home of the champions, redemption stories are never handed out—they are earned.
As MPL Philippines Season 17 fast approaches, AP.Bren and Smart Omega are betting that new roles, renewed fire, and fresh reinforcements will be enough to transform last season’s struggles into a statement of resurgence.
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