Aurora Gaming PH secured the MPL Philippines Season 18 title on 26 October 2026, defeating Team Falcons PH 4-2 in the best-of-seven grand final at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
How the series unfolded
Aurora took the opening game behind objective control from Kyle “Koyl” Reyes, but Falcons responded with wins in Games 2 and 3 led by Michael “Kyle” Sayson, Salic “Hadji” Imam and Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano to move within two victories of the title. Aurora rallied from a 1-2 deficit to win the next three games and close out the series.
“As a player, that was the hardest part. We were surprised by their picks, and they played them well; they took advantage of the game,” said Falcons roamer Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo, translated into English.
The turning point came in Game 4 when Aurora unveiled an unconventional pick: Estes in the midlane for Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo. The strategy produced an 11-2 victory that evened the series, and Aurora repeated the pick in Game 5 with Dylan “Light” Catipon on Estes to secure a 21-17 win and reach match point.
Aurora closed the series in Game 6 despite Falcons banning Estes; the Northern Lights delivered a commanding finish to claim the championship. Jan “Domeng” Delmundo was named Finals MVP after leading Aurora's charge in the last three games, notably on Chou.
“In this kind of match, normally you would want to ban a hero that is often used, and we fell into that trap — we became reactive in the draft instead of being the aggressive ones today,” Falcons coach Mohammad “Moody” Samal said, translated into English.
What matters for Philippine players and the MPL scene
- Aurora Gaming PH completes a domestic milestone by adding the MPL Philippines Season 18 trophy to its list of achievements.
- Draft innovation: The successful use of Estes in unconventional roles — midlane and then roamer — highlights evolving draft strategies in the MPL meta and may influence team preparations for future seasons and regional events.
- MVP and key performers: Jan “Domeng” Delmundo earned Finals MVP honors for his decisive role in the closing games; Aurora’s Kyle “Koyl” Reyes and Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo were central to the series turnaround.
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| MPL Philippines Season 18 grand final | Aurora Gaming PH def. Team Falcons PH, 4-2 |
| Finals MVP | Jan “Domeng” Delmundo |
| Decisive strategy | Estes drafted in midlane (Game 4) and as roamer (Game 5) |
| Venue | PhilSports Arena, Pasig City |
| Date | 26 October 2026 |
The title gives Aurora the domestic crown that had eluded the organization since joining the MPL Philippines. For Team Falcons PH, the series exposed vulnerabilities in draft preparation and adaptability, according to coach Mohammad “Moody” Samal.
For players, coaches and fans in the Philippines, Aurora's use of an unusual hero role in a high‑stakes final underlines the importance of flexible drafting and cross-role experimentation at the professional level. Teams preparing for future MPL seasons and regional competitions will likely reassess bans and counterpicks in response to Aurora's finals strategy.
