Upsets, tension mark MPL Philippines Season 14 opener

MANILA, Philippines – The Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines returned with a bang for its 14th season, with new team Aurora soaring to the top of the standings and Smart Omega shutting down doubters with a clean sheet in opening week.

Aurora swept both of its matches over the weekend against Blacklist International and RSG Philippines, securing the top seed after Week 1 with two points and a 4-0 game standing. 

Also at two points is Smart Omega, which won against TNC, 2-0, and upset reigning world champion Falcons AP.Bren, 2-1; and Fnatic ONIC Philippines, which also swept TNC, 2-0, and survived Blacklist International, 2-1. Both teams have two points and a 4-1 game standing.

Reigning MPL champion Team Liquid Philippines won its opener against RSG Philippines to place fourth; while Falcons AP.Bren sits at fifth with a lone defeat, having played only one match over the weekend.

Blacklist International and RSG Philippines are tied at sixth place, having lost both of their matches, but secured a game to stay ahead of TNC Pro Team, which wasn't able to secure a game win during the opening weekend.

Tension outside the Land of Dawn

Besides the matches happening inside the MPL arena, back and forth exchanges between Aurora and Blacklist International made headlines over the weekend.

This after Aurora's captain, Renejay “Renejay” Barcase and Blacklist International's Julius "Banoobs" Mariano exchanged statements.

It all started during the preseason conference when Mariano said that Blacklist International would not be welcoming back any of their former players even with the open-transfer system in play.

"For us, me personally, honestly no. Kasi what we start is we've been through the process. We've been hurt, we've been healed, and now we're ready for war. There's no turning back from this. Laban kami kung laban pero if there's an opportunity na babalik, yung door is not yet closed pero parang ex lang e. Babalikan mo ba?"

After their win against Blacklist International, Barcase was asked for his comment on the statement, and the Aurora roamer didn't mince his words. 

"Una, hindi ko pa po nakakasama si Banoobs, so hindi ko po talaga siya