THE MPL Philippines Season 17 playoffs cast may be complete, but the tournament intensity shows no signs of slowing down as ONIC PH once again reignites its “Golden Rivalry” with defending champion Team Liquid PH.
ONIC PH will look to exact revenge against Team Liquid PH after their Week 4 encounter, but this time, the Super Family also has the opportunity to derail the Cavalry’s bid to finish the regular season on top this Sunday at the Victoria Sports Tower.
For Team Liquid PH, the message heading into this series is clear: dominance has already been established, but momentum must be preserved. Boasting an impressive 12-1 record, the Cavalry have not only secured a playoff berth but also locked in an upper bracket advantage that could shape their run toward a third consecutive MPL title since Season 15.
Meanwhile, ONIC PH may have already locked in the third seed, but this matchup offers a final shot at redemption before the playoffs begin.
The Super Family fell to the Cavalry in a decisive 0-2 sweep during Week 4, a result that still lingers heading into this rematch. This meeting now gives ONIC PH a chance to close out the regular season with a statement win over the reigning champions.
This top-seed race adds another layer of tension, as ONIC PH look to disrupt Liquid’s hold on the summit. If ONIC PH beats Team Liquid PH, it would open a rare scenario where Team Falcons could potentially claim the top seed after sweeping both AP.Bren and TNC Pro Team earlier in Week 8.
That said, such a scenario would require ONIC PH not just to win, but to sweep Team Liquid PH outright—making the pathway slim, though not entirely impossible.
One of the most anticipated storylines is the jungle duel between Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno and Cyric “K1NGKONG” Perez. Beyond individual mechanics, this matchup has consistently tilted in favor of Team Liquid PH in terms of macro impact and objective control.
Statistically, the edge leans heavily toward the Cavalry. Team Liquid PH have demonstrated superior control across key objectives, posting a 70.7% Lord control rate and 66.7% Turtle control rate, compared to ONIC PH’s 58.8% and 46.4% respectively. That advantage has often translated into cleaner rotations, stronger map control, and more decisive late-game executions.
For K1NGKONG and ONIC PH, the challenge extends beyond simply matching KarlTzy mechanically. The Super Family must also find a way to disrupt Team Liquid PH’s disciplined objective setups and commanding map control.
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