RORA overcomes FLCN to claim maiden MPL championship after 5 seasons

The Northern Lights have endured five seasons of heartbreak in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines, but their long-awaited breakthrough has finally arrived.

Aurora Gaming (RORA) captured its first MPL Philippines championship after conquering Team Falcons (FLCN), 4–2, in the Season 18 grand final at the PhilSports Arena on October 25.

This ended Aurora’s title drought following runner-up finishes in Seasons 14 and 16, as the Northern Lights completed their playoff run by eliminating defending champions Team Liquid PH (TLPH), 4–3, in the lower-bracket final.

Flexing their brilliance shaped from the grueling lower bracket finale, Aurora dominated the macros of the opener, taking all three healing turtles while Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo and Dylan “Light” Catipon’s Zhuxin and Atlas, respectively, derailed any attempts from the Falcons.

Yue showed the way for RORA in the opener, receiving MVP honors with a 6–1–7 kill-death-assist (KDA) ratio and a prolific 93% kill participation to draw first blood.

In the second game, the resurgent Falcons pounced on time after hacking out a favorable 4-for-1 trade after a lord clash to end the game in the 13th minute and level the series.

Carrying the momentum, the Falcons successfully took the elemental lord in the third game that allowed them to breach Aurora’s bottom lane for an inevitable push to nab a 2–1 series lead after a 20-minute affair.

From then, the Northern Lights proved that they would not be dimmed once again in the tournament.

After falling behind 2–1 in the best-of-seven series, the Aniel “Master the Basics” Jiandani coached squad turned the tide with a classic pick in Game 4, deploying Estes in the midlane under Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo to knot the series at 2-all.

Neither camp wavered in Game 5, as both sides were tied at 12 kills apiece in the nine-minute mark of the contest.

In the 11th minute mark of the skirmish, Jan “Domeng” Del Mundo’s Chou silenced Michael Angelo “Kyle” Sayson’s Aulus for a 4-for-4 exchange in the clash.

However, RORA beamed in the 12th minute after wiping out FLCN to move one cusp away from glory without needing to take the lead, 3–2.

With the title within reach, Aurora delivered a commanding performance in Game 6 as Domeng unleashed his Clint and recorded a 9–0–3 KDA to seal the series.

Domeng’s decisive performances throughout the final earned him the Finals MVP award, capping a championship run alongside Yue, Light, Kyle “Koyl” Reyes and Nathanael “Nathzz” Estrologo.

Both Aurora and Team Falcons will represent the Philippines at the M8 World Championship, where they will seek to extend the country’s winning streak in the M-Series and defend its standing on the international stage.