Team Falcons secures Grand Finals berth in MPL PH S18

Team Falcons hailed as the “first defender of the PH era” after securing their ticket to the M8 World Championships, as well as their Grand Final slot at the MPL Philippines season 18. (Courtesy: MPL Philippines/YouTube Team Falcons Philippines survived Aurora Gaming Philippines in the upper bracket match of MLBB Professional League (MPL) Philippines season 18 playoffs, 3-2, at the Philippine Sports Arena, Pasig City this Friday, October 23.

The green squad, composed of former M-Series world champions David Charles “Flap” Canon, Michael “Kyle” Sayson, Salic “Hadji” Imam, Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo, and Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano, will be the first confirmed Philippine team to compete for the M8 World Championship in Istanbul, Türkiye next year.

Despite being the second seed in the regular season, the Falcons were challenged by the Northern Lights in the early stages of the match but bounced back as they tied the series.

The series further extended as the Falcons denied the match win to the M7 champions in the fourth game, before they snagged the grand finals berth in the last clash.

“Pinag-usapan naman namin na kayang-kaya naman namin sila. Need lang naming ayusin ‘yong execution namin kasi lagi naman kaming lamang [sa] early game [laban] sa kanila… Nawawala lang kami sa composure, napa-“palchoke” kami,” Hadji said during the post-match interview.

They also said that they are confident as they enter the world stage, saying that they will prove that the “Philippine era” is not over.

“Ito ‘yung chance namin na i-prove na hindi pa over ‘yung era natin,” Owgwen said when asked what it means to them defending the title in the world championships.

They will face the winner in the lower bracket finals, where Aurora Gaming Philippines will wait for the winner between defending champions Team Liquid Philippines and ONIC Philippines.