#team liquid

"When [APA] was in academy, he liked to pick up every academy player"

The Philippines continues its strong push for global supremacy at the M7 World Championship as Aurora Gaming PH and Team Liquid secured crucial victories during Day 3 of the knockout rounds of the M7 World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Against elite international competition, both Filipino squads demonstrated composure, tactical discipline, and championship-level decision-making — qualities essential for surviving the pressure-packed knockout stage of the M7 World Championship.

Aurora Gaming PH Advance to M7 World Championship Grand Finals

Aurora Gaming PH officially booked their place in the M7 World Championship grand finals after edging Malaysia’s Selangor Red Giants in a thrilling five-game upper bracket series that showcased world-class macro play and mental resilience.

Series Breakdown: Aurora Gaming PH vs Selangor Red Giants

GameWinnerKey Moment at the M7 World ChampionshipGame 1Aurora Gaming PHLate-game team fight executionGame 2Selangor Red GiantsEXP lane dominanceGame 3Selangor Red GiantsObjective snowballGame 4Aurora Gaming PHCrucial Lord wipeGame 5Aurora Gaming PHFifth Lord push to end

Aurora struck first by patiently absorbing pressure and capitalizing on key team fights. However, Selangor Red Giants quickly flipped the series behind sharp macro play and lane dominance, pushing Aurora to the brink of elimination.

Selangor Red Giants’ Pushback at the M7 World Championship

The Malaysian squad proved why they are considered one of the tournament’s strongest teams. Filipino EXP laner Mark Rusiana and midlaner Hazziq Rizwan were instrumental in SRG’s mid-series surge, controlling tempo and punishing small mistakes.

Their aggressive lane control, timely rotations, and objective pressure flipped the series and gave SRG a 2–1 lead, showcasing their ability to dominate momentum-heavy matches at the M7 World Championship level.

Aurora’s Comeback Fueled by Mental Toughness at the M7 World Championship

Facing elimination, Aurora Gaming PH responded with their most composed performance of the tournament. A perfectly timed Lord engagement in Game 4 resulted in a four-man wipe, swinging momentum back in their favor and forcing a decisive Game 5.

The final game evolved into a tactical battle focused on vision control, defensive discipline, and patience — hallmarks of top-tier play at the M7 World Championship. When Selangor attempted to transition from defense to offense during the fifth Lord fight, Aurora punished the overextension and marched straight to the base to close the series.

Aurora Gaming PH’s Winning Factors

Key FactorImpactMap ControlDenied flanks and visionLord TimingPerfectly executed engagementsDisciplineAvoided unnecessary fightsMental ResilienceRecovered from a 1–2 deficit

The victory guaranteed Aurora Gaming PH a spot in the M7 World Championship grand finals.

Team Liquid Stay Alive in the M7 World Championship Lower Bracket

In the lower bracket, Team Liquid continued its run after defeating Indonesian champions ONIC Esports, silencing a partisan Jakarta crowd and keeping their hopes alive at the M7 World Championship.

Team Liquid vs ONIC Esports

GameWinnerKey DetailGame 1Team LiquidEarly tempo controlGame 2Team LiquidClean macro executionGame 3ONIC EsportsCrowd-inspired comebackGame 4Team LiquidControlled initiations

Team Liquid surged to a 2–0 lead in the M7 World Championship series before ONIC mounted a response in Game 3. However, Team Liquid’s experience showed in Game 4, where calculated map control and disciplined engagements sealed the win.

Filipino Junglers Continue to Lead the Way

Filipino junglers once again played a decisive role, with Karl Nepomuceno of Team Liquid and Jonard Caranto of Aurora Gaming PH controlling objectives, tempo, and late-game transitions.

Jungler Impact Comparison

PlayerTeamKey StrengthKarl “KarlTzy” NepomucenoTeam LiquidObjective control, composureJonard “Demonkite” CarantoAurora Gaming PHMap pressure, clutch smites

Their performances reinforced the Philippines’ reputation as one of the strongest jungle regions in global competition.

What Lies Ahead for the Philippine Teams

Aurora Gaming PH now awaits the winner of the lower bracket in the grand finals scheduled for Sunday, January 25, while Team Liquid must continue its survival run against Turkiye’s Aurora Gaming on Friday at 4:00 p.m. (Manila time).

With one team already in the finals and another still battling, the Philippines remains firmly in the hunt as the M7 World Championship approaches its decisive stages — and the dream of lifting the trophy is still very much alive.

FAQs

1.Which Philippine teams are still competing?

Aurora Gaming PH has reached the grand finals, while Team Liquid remains alive through the lower bracket.

2.Who did Aurora Gaming PH defeat to reach the finals?

They eliminated Malaysia’s Selangor Red Giants in a closely contested five-game upper bracket series.

3.How did Team Liquid stay alive in the tournament?

Team Liquid defeated Indonesian champions ONIC Esports with disciplined macro play and strong objective control.

4.Which players stood out for the Filipino teams?