Report Card: Team Liquid Conquers MPL PH S18 First Half
Defending champion Team Liquid PH has established itself at the top of the standings, with Team Falcons PH and ONIC Philippines close behind as the first half of the MPL Philippines Season 18 regular season comes to a close.
The playoff race is beginning to take shape, but the battle is not only about securing a postseason spot. The top two seeds can earn an upper-bracket advantage, giving them a better position and helping them avoid an early elimination threat in the play-ins.
Meanwhile, teams in the middle and bottom half of the table face an increasingly important second half as they look to secure a postseason spot.
Here is ALL-STAR’s report card for all eight teams after the first half of Season 18.
Team Liquid PH — A+
The three-time defending champion Team Liquid PH made a strong start to its title defense, climbing to the top of the standings with a 6-1 match record.
The Cavalry suffered its lone defeat against Team Falcons PH during the opening week before responding with five consecutive 2-0 sweeps.
After establishing itself at the top of the standings, Team Liquid enters the second half with momentum as it continues its bid for a fourth straight championship.
Team Falcons PH — A
Team Falcons PH lived up to its “Streakbreakers” moniker during the first half, ending ONIC Philippines’ unbeaten run in Week 3 before also stopping Aurora Gaming PH’s winning streak in Week 4.
The Green Falcons finished the first half with a 6-1 record, matching Team Liquid’s mark and securing the second seed.
Those two statement wins highlighted the Falcons’ ability to disrupt the momentum of fellow playoff contenders heading into the second half.
ONIC Philippines — A-
ONIC Philippines looked unstoppable during the opening weeks, racing to an unbeaten 5-0 record before Team Falcons ended its run in Week 3.
The Super Family then suffered another setback in Week 4 after falling to Team Liquid PH in a 2-0 sweep, dropping them to third place in the standings.
Despite the back-to-back setbacks, ONIC remains firmly in the upper half of the table and will look to regain its early-season form in the second half.
Smart Omega — B+
Smart Omega has quietly emerged as one of the teams to watch this season, highlighted by its 2-1 victory over Team Falcons PH in Week 2.
Now sitting in fourth place, Omega has shown an ability to catch opponents off guard through clever attention-diversion plays and timely backdoors.
Its victory over Falcons, coupled with its ability to create openings through unorthodox plays, has kept Omega firmly in the playoff conversation heading into the second half.
Aurora Gaming PH — B
The M7 World Champion endured a difficult start to Season 18, dropping three consecutive matches before finding its rhythm in Week 3.
Aurora responded by stringing together three straight victories against Twisted Minds, Smart Omega, and AP.Bren, giving the M7 World Champion a much-needed turnaround heading into the second half.
After recovering from its early struggles, Aurora enters the second half with an opportunity to build on its improved form and climb further up the standings.
TNC Pro Team — C
TNC Pro Team sits in sixth place with a 3-4 match record, highlighted by a 2-1 upset victory over Aurora Gaming PH in Week 1.
The Phoenix Army has shown flashes of its potential, but its 3-4 record leaves little room for error in the second half as it faces rematches against top contenders and teams it has previously defeated.
TNC will need greater consistency in the remaining matches to strengthen its position in the playoff race.
AP.Bren — D
AP.Bren finds itself in the bottom two after four weeks of the regular season, with its lone match victory coming against Twisted Minds in Week 1.
The Hive now faces a tighter race for a playoff spot in the second half as it attempts to end its three-season postseason drought dating back to MPL PH Season 15.
With little room for error remaining, AP.Bren will need to turn its opportunities into wins to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Twisted Minds — F
Twisted Minds remains winless after four weeks, carrying a 0-7 match record into the second half.
The squad’s playoff hopes are growing slimmer, but qualification remains possible if it can make major adjustments and reverse its fortunes in the remaining matches.
The Second Half Awaits
With the first half in the books, the standings have established the early frontrunners and the teams chasing from behind. But with the playoff race still open, the second half offers plenty of room for the hierarchy to change.
Every match will carry greater weight from here on out, making the remaining weeks crucial for teams looking to secure favorable playoff positioning—or simply stay alive in the postseason race.
