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| Fnatic Onic PH coach Anthony "Ynot" Senedrin has an interesting description of how he sees his team's 6-0 start. MPL Philippines (file photo) |
MANILA--With only one night left in the first round of the MPL Philippines regular season, one team is standing tall on top of the standings with an undefeated record.
No, it is neither defending champion Team Liquid Philippines nor reigning world champion Falcons AP Bren but Fnatic Onic Philippines.
Apparently on a redemption mission after a shock second-round exit last season against Blacklist International, the Onic franchise really wants that outright spot in the upper bracket semifinals, going 6-0 to start the season, highlighted by a stunner against Liquid.
When asked if his club is surprised that they are on track for a regular season sweep nearly midway through, head coach Anthony Senedrin had an interesting answer.
"Hindi naman siya surprise, pero hindi rin siya ine-expect," said Senedrin, also known as Ynot, after Fnatic Onic PH's 2-0 win against RSG Philippines, another known playoff contender, on Friday night at the Green Sun Hotel Ballroom in Makati.
Senedrin added that the 6-0 start was the result of a per-game approach to Fnatic Onic PH's campaign.
"Yung pinaka-main focus ko with the team is just every single game, we try to do our best and give it our all, and the result will just speak for itself," he further said.
Only one team stands in the way for Fnatic Onic PH to complete the first-round sweep, Falcons AP Bren on Sunday night.
Falcons AP Bren also came from a 2-0 first-round sweep of TNC earlier Friday to go up to 5-1.
In what could be a potential finals preview, stakes could be high for the Fnatic Onic PH-Falcons AP Bren clash scheduled as the first game of the Sunday twinbill as the winner will end the first round on top of the team standings.
"Bren is waiting for us, and we're quite excited about that," Senedrin added, further saying that Fnatic Onic PH really wants to avenge its bad defeat to Falcons AP Bren during their second-round meeting last season.
However, right after Fnatic Onic PH faces Falcons AP Bren to end the first round, they will take on Liquid again to open the second round next Friday, essentially making it a killer mid-season stretch.
Some may speculate that Fnatic Onic PH's next ties could really determine if they are indeed title contenders or mere pretenders.
"These teams are at the top for a reason," Senedrin said, implying that he is still wary of what Liquid, which is surprisingly at 3-3 heading to the Sunday nightcap against uprising Smart Omega in the final match for the first round, could do late in the season, especially in the playoffs.
He then hopes that come the playoffs, Fnatic Onic PH will evolve to legitimize their being title contenders.
"Hopefully, hindi pa ito yung peak namin. Hopefully, tumaas pa," Senedrin concluded.
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