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| Photo from MPL Philippines |
by Drew Malihan
MANILA – Since its inception into the league in 2019, ONIC Philippines has always come close to an MPL title, being the "best thing they never had". Despite three near-victories — twice during the V33Wise era and once in the Kairi seasons — the championship remained elusive.
After breaking down their roster in Season 10, they faced four straight seasons of struggle, failing to crack the top four. Their most recent run ended in disaster, as they couldn’t maintain their early form and were eliminated by Blacklist International.
Little did anyone know that the Fnatic buff would come into full effect this season in Magallanes, and calling their transformation "amazing" is an understatement.
Formation
Frince "Super Frince" Ramirez, King Cyric "K1NGKONG" Perez, Duane "Kelra" Pillas, and coach Anthony "Ynot" Senedrin were retained from last season's roster. To fill the gaps, ONIC added a new roamer, an EXP laner, and advertised for an assistant coaching role. The team found their answers.
Jann Kirk "Kirk" Gutierrez and Brian Milez "Spider-Milez" Santos joined ONIC after stints with Minana EVOS. Jeniel "Haze" Bata-anon, a former midlaner, returned as an assistant coach, partnering with Ynot again after their initial run at Smart Omega. Borris "Brusko" Parro, a former RRQ Hoshi player, also made a comeback to the Philippine scene. With this refreshed lineup, the newly dubbed "Super Family" went to work—and they did "work it out."
Sweet Dreams
Fnatic ONIC PH’s near-perfect run turned their sweet dreams into reality while handing their opponents beautiful nightmares. The squad hit a new level, defeating TNC, RSG, and Team Liquid PH during their first two weeks, claiming the top spot in the MPL Philippines standings.
Once they reached the top, they never looked back. The team went on a historic 13-0 unbeaten streak, surpassing the previous 11-series win record set by Season 8 Blacklist International and Season 12 ECHO. Fnatic ONIC also became one of the fastest teams to secure a playoff berth, doing so by the first day of Week 5.
Their success was attributed to their brotherly relationship inside and outside the game, as Ynot credited their experiences in their past teams. The FNOP coach stated that within days, the six clicked immediately, and since then translated into the Land of Dawn.
Irreplaceable
While K1NGKONG gathered the most game and weekly MVP titles, with many expecting him to win regular-season MVP, the spotlight also deserves to shine on midlaner Super Frince.
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| Photo from MPL Philippines |
At 20 years old, Super Frince may not boast flashy plays like his teammates, but when it comes to getting the job done, he’s the epitome of efficiency. He maintained an impressive 2.21 kills per game while lowering his average deaths to just 1.03. His assist numbers saw a huge increase, averaging 7.35 per game. Frince ranks third overall in total assists with 250, only trailing behind Smart Omega’s Joshua "Ch4knu" Mangilog and Jayson "UK1R" Alupit. His kill participation rate also stands at a solid 75%.
Frince’s hero pool may have narrowed this season, with 11 unique heroes compared to 13 last season, but he made each pick count. He holds a 75% win rate with Valentina, 80% with Vexana, and has made Zhuxin a menace. Notably, he’s also the only midlaner to win a game with Yve this season, and he did so twice.
Run the World (?)
Fnatic ONIC PH's next step toward their two goals, clinching the M6 World Championship ticket and winning the MPL Philippines trophy, will pit them against the winner of the Team Liquid PH vs. Aurora matchup. Both teams have provided stern tests for ONIC, ensuring that no matter the opponent, fans will be in for a treat.
The Sonics will need to prepare for two contrasting playstyles: the controlled chaos of TLPH or the counterattacking mastery of Aurora. The potential showdowns promise excitement, with matchups like K1NGKONG vs. Karl Gabriel "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno and Kirk facing off against Edward Jay "Edward" Dapadap.
Fnatic ONIC PH is ready to "run the world" as they charge toward the playoffs. With the "halo" of a near-perfect season, they’ve proven they can be "irreplaceable" in the MPL. The Sonics need to stay with their game and show their opponents that they’ve got the "sweet dreams" of championship glory. If they keep their momentum going, ONIC just might shout "we flawless" as they take home their long-awaited MPL crown.
Follow him on X: @DMalihan_DPH
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