Will TLPH achieve the first Golden Road in MLBB esports?
Team Liquid PH (TLPH) crushed Aurora Gaming’s (RORA) 15-match win streak with a flawless 4-0 sweep to claim the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines (MPL PH) Season 16 championship crown. It was a surprising plot twist in the story as fans thought RORA was unstoppable this season.
When it mattered most, TLPH flipped the script. The squad dismantled RORA’s defenses and finished the final match of the series with a signature Lou Yi teleport backdoor play. With this win, the Rolden Road dream continues as they prepare for the M7 World Championship.
MPL PH Season 16 Grand Finals: Team Liquid PH extinguishes the burning light from Aurora Gaming
A lot of fans were skeptical when RORA qualified for a playoff spot in the MPL PH Season 16. Last season, they had an early exit, which disappointed a lot of fans, considering they were so dominant in the regular season.
It was the same for Season 16: they went into the playoffs with a 13-1 record. However, this time, they did reach the playoffs and were one win away from a 16-win streak and the championship title. Fans were hopeful. Perhaps this season would be different. Perhaps the Northern Lights could shine brighter.
Unfortunately for RORA, that was not the case. Team Liquid PH went on an absolute rampage in the grand finals, dismantling RORA in a one-sided 4-0 sweep that left little room for doubt. The kill counts alone told the story: 21-6 in Game 1, 20-8 in Game 2, 13-2 in Game 3, and a close yet decisive 8-6 in Game 4, all in favor of TLPH.
After an incredible 15-match win streak, the cracks began to show under the pressure of the grand finals. RORA finally met their kryptonite in TLPH. And with that, the MPL PH Season 16 concluded, and the teams went back to the drawing board to figure out their next move.
Trekking the Golden Road, one step at a time
Through a post-match press conference, Team Liquid PH shared their thoughts on continuing their journey into completing their Golden Road journey this year. They only have one more win left to achieve this monumental milestone, the M7 World Championship.
According to the team manager, Mitch Liwanag, the team aims to take it slow. Consistency is their goal, and the Golden Road is just a bonus.
“For us, we're not focusing on completing the Golden Road, but it will be an honor to have that title. We're taking this one at a time. Like the boys said, we're not in a hurry; we follow the right process. We're going to make sure that the boys will do their best. We'll get there," Liwanag said.
The TLPH Spider Strategy: The hungrier they get, the bolder they become
Fans are well aware of Rodel “Ar Sy” B. Cruz’s inspiring journey. From street vendor to head chef, and now one of Team Liquid PH’s respected coaches. With a chef leading the squad, you’d expect the team to be “eating good” before the MPL PH Season 16 grand finals. But surprisingly, that wasn’t the case.
According to Coach Ar Sy himself, the team didn’t eat anything before the match. A revelation he blurted out with an eager grin, almost jumping in to answer before anyone else could. The room erupted in laughter as Kiel "Oheb" Soriano grabbed the mic to add, “We’re like spiders, we get bolder the more hungry we get.”
As expected, the team is in high spirits and is still trying to calm down after their exhilarating clean sweep victory.
Golden Road? No one has ever done that in the history of MLBB!
So, why should you care about TLPH scoring a Golden Road this M7 World Championship? Because this could be the first time someone can pull it off in MLBB esports.
The closest team to achieving a Golden Road is ONIC Indonesia. After acquiring Kairi "Kairi" Rayosdelsol back in 2022, they went wild, winning every single tournament they joined, except the M4 World Championship.
Their legendary streak began in MPL Indonesia (ID) Season 11, followed by a dominant run that saw them claim the MLBB Southeast Asia Cup 2023 and then secure another title in MPL ID Season 12. At that point, the dream of completing the Golden Road, a clean sweep of every major MLBB tournament, was within reach. All they needed was one final victory at the M5 World Championship. But fate had other plans. AP.Bren, whose lineup now plays under Team Falcons PH, shattered that dream with a hard-fought seven-game showdown. This ended their streak and denied them the ultimate glory.
That said, Team Liquid PH’s upcoming run in the M7 World Championship carries enormous weight for two major reasons. First, it marks the continuation of their pursuit of the elusive Golden Road. It’s a feat only a handful of teams have come close to achieving.
Second, it raises the question of whether another region can finally break the long-standing dominance of Filipino teams on the world stage. Since EVOS Legends from Indonesia claimed the inaugural M1 World Championship, every succeeding title has been secured by a team from the Philippines. With M7 on the horizon, all eyes are on whether this streak will continue or if a new region will finally rise to the throne.
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