JAKARTA, Indonesia — The long chase is finally over. The scars of defeat have faded, and for once, the tears rolling down Aurora Gaming PH's Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo and Dominic “Domengkite” Del Mundo came not from heartbreak, but from triumph.
Yue and Domengkite spent years burdened by the cruel label of being uncrowned — falling short time and again despite pouring everything they have into the game, only to watch championship dreams slip away.
That's not the case anymore as Aurora Gaming PH can finally call themselves champions after ruling the M7 World Championship by sweeping Alter Ego in the best-of-seven finals, Sunday at the Tennis Indoor Sensayan.
READ: Aurora PH completes masterful M7 run to claim World Championship
For Yue, the road to M7 glory was built on resilience.
Despite being part of an elite Blacklist International squad, titles remained elusive for Yue. He came close in the MPL PH Seasons 11, 12, 14 and 16, the 2023 MSC trophy and the M5 World Championship yet the brilliant mid laner never really went all the way.
That’s why despite being at match point while holding a sizable 3-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series, Yue stayed locked in – not allowing this one to slip from his fingers as well, holding off celebrations until all of it is official.
“When it became 3–0, of course I started to feel hyped, but I kept calming myself until the match was really over because there was a chance we could get reverse-swept. I still kept my composure,” Yue explained.
He didn’t need to show restraint for long though.
It only took Aurora exactly 11 minutes and 25 seconds in the deciding Game 4 to wrap up the series, with Yue even coming up with a deathless performance of 5-0-12 kill-death-assist (KDA) ratio on his Zetian.
It was a dominant close-out game for the Northern Lights as they wrapped up Game 4 with a 10k gold lead, without giving up any of the objectives to their Indonesian counterparts.
“What’s running through my mind right now is just joy! The feeling is different when you become a champion,” Yue said in an exclusive interview with SPIN.ph.
“You get used to doubt—wondering if what you’re doing is right, if you should keep fighting. So this is what it feels like to be a champion.”
Yue shared that his resilience comes from refusing to dwell on defeat and choosing to move forward, crediting not only his teammates for constantly lifting his morale, but also Aurora PH country lead and long-time mentor Elrasec “Rada” Ocampo, who helped shape his character dating back to their Blacklist days.
“My teammates were there for me, and especially Boss Rada, who talks to us heart-to-heart. He helped me a lot, especially in becoming more vocal. I used to be extremely quiet—now I’m learning how to speak up and lead,” Yue said.
Domengkite's story followed a similar path of resilience, though his journey was marked by even harsher scrutiny.
Throughout his career, he endured waves of criticism and online hate following costly mistakes, often becoming an easy target despite his dedication and effort.
Season after season, he remained on the grind, choosing to trust the process and believing that hard work would eventually be rewarded.
At M7, that belief finally paid off.
“At first, I really wanted to cry—tears of joy—but I couldn’t let it out. It still hasn’t sunk in for me,” Domengkite shared after the victory.
Like Yue, Domengkite drew strength from the unwavering belief of those around him.
“One of the things that really boosted me was the management and the entire team,” Domengkite expressed. “They believed that we could become champions. All we had to do was play our game—and it paid off.”
Throughout the tournament, Domengkite proved indispensable—calm in tense situations and fearless when the stakes were highest. It was the kind of performance that defined a champion long before the trophy was raised.
When Aurora Gaming PH finally sealed their M7 victory, the celebration carried a deeper meaning.
For Yue and Domengkite, it was not just a championship—it was redemption and taking matters into their own hands to rewrite their own story.
Aurora PH triumph stands as a reminder that greatness is not always immediate. Sometimes, it is earned through endurance, belief, and the courage to keep going even when dreams feel impossibly far away.
From early elimination in M6 to conquering the M7 World Championship, Aurora and its two uncrowned princes have finally completed a redemption journey that will inspire a new generation of aspiring MLBB pros.
At M7, Yue and Domengkite were uncrowned no more—no longer defined by what they lacked, but by the championship they fought years to finally claim.
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