Filipino Brilliance on Full Display on Day 1 of MSC at Esports World Cup
Team Liquid Philippines started strong in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2025, sweeping Ultra Legends (MENA) with a clean 2-0 sweep on Wednesday at the Boulevard City, Amazon Arena in Riyadh.
After making quick work against the MENA representatives, Team Liquid is now 1-0 in the group stage, one win away from advancing to the Knockout round when they face ONIC ID on Friday.
In Game 1, ULL showed a great start with an early two to one trade during the first turtle objective, taking down Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya (Phoveus) and Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno (Lancelot).
Despite their early aggression with a good lineup composition using Mathilda as their Support in the hands of Mahmoud Ahmed “RiseCrim” Rawash, Team Liquid showed their championship form right off the bat with great aggression throughout the 13-minute game.
However, despite a great team effort in Game 1, it was KarlTzy who shone the most with an impressive performance using his signature hero Lancelot, finishing with an incredible KDA of seven kills, one death, and eight assists.
In Game 2, TLPH dominated the match right from the start.
ULL had no answer against the MPL PH Season 15 champions, finishing the game with a 27-9 in the kill score in just 11 minutes and seven seconds.
Kiel “OHEB” Soriano (Harith) was undoubtedly the star of the match, filling out the statsheet with a record of 10 kills, one death, and 11 assists, also taking the first Maniac of MSC 2025.
In the second match of the day, Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol and ONIC ID pulled off a 2-1 reverse sweep against CFU Gaming (Cambodia).
Chhuon “Oppi” Phengkong’s Kimmy was the total threat in Game 1, in which he was all around the map, taking the second maniac of the tournament after a four-man Traction Pull ultimate in the last seconds of the game.
However, in Games 2 and 3, ONIC’s Clayton “Savero” Kuswanto (Granger) and Kairi (Yi Sun Shin), took turns in punishing CFU, earning their first win in the tournament.
Savero finished with a KDA of 11 kills, one death, and five assists in Game 2, while Kairi walked away with five kills and eight assists in Game 3.
Meanwhile, defending MSC champions Selangor Red Giants (SRG) led by Filipino coach Michael Angelo Bocado, aka Arcadia, denied Virtus Pro’s upset with a 2-1 win.
Despite losing in Game 1 against SRG where Filipino stars Mark “Kramm” Rusiana (Cici) and John “Innocent” Banal (Claude) carried the match, Andrew “Andoryuuu” Lopez’s Yi Sun Shin allowed Virtus Pro to tie the series, 1-1, in in Game 2.
However, SRG’s Muhammad “Sekysss” Zaman’s Lancelot was too much for VP to handle in Game 3, finishing with a record of 10 kills, one death, and eight assists.
In the final match of Day 1, Kristofer “Hesu” Calderon’s Corinthians Esports squad fell into the hands of Mythic Seal, 1-2.
