Team Liquid PH addresses the controversy with Oheb, roster changes, and legal action ahead of the MPL PH Season 17.
Team Liquid PH (TLPH) made an official statement regarding the controversial departure of its star Gold Laner, Kiel “Oheb” Q.Soriano. His release from the roster caused an uproar in the community, especially when the pro announced his transition to Honor of Kings. It also didn’t help that both parties were withholding information, leading to wild speculations from fans.
With speculation running wild, Team Liquid PH has finally broken the silence. The organization released a statement addressing the controversy, confirming that the situation has escalated into a legal dispute.
Team Liquid PH breaks silence regarding controversial departure of Oheb
Team Liquid PH entered 2026 with sky-high expectations. The team dominated all but one of the major events in 2025. This includes MPL PH Season 15, 16, and the MSC 2025. However, their run took an unexpected turn. They underperformed at the M7 World Championship, losing their chance at a Golden Road achievement. Despite the upsetting run, fans wished the team good luck in their next competition, looking forward to their strong comeback.
Instead, the situation took an unexpected turn, as the roster began to unravel, forcing Team Liquid PH into a major rebuild.
The “resignation vs inactive” debate
During the MPL PH Season 17 roster reveal hype, fans were surprised when Team Liquid PH announced that Oheb would switch from active to inactive. This means that he will still be part of the team, but a new player will be replacing him next season. It did not help that there were also rumors about him transitioning to Honor of Kings that were spreading. This led to fans demanding Team Liquid PH to explain what was the reason for his inactive status. The organization remained quiet, but not Oheb.
On Feb. 25, Oheb posted an official statement, explaining that he is no longer part of the team. This post is from a law firm clarifying that the pro player has already submitted his resignation.
“Any suggestion that he disappeared or failed to communicate is inaccurate,” the post explained.
This raised more questions, as Team Liquid PH previously stated that Oheb was only inactive. However, Oheb’s post tells a different story.
What really happened, according to Team Liquid PH
Based on the organization’s official statement, Oheb formally submitted his resignation on Feb. 6. A player leaving the team should not be an issue in and of itself. However, due to the timing, this left the team with very little time to find someone else to fill Oheb’s shoes. The team was preparing for MPL PH Season 17, set to start on March 20.
“We offered to support him through the retirement process, the way we have with players before, and explained that a retirement transition usually takes one season, so the player, the team, and the league can all be protected. We concluded that he required time to think. In the days that followed, we reached out repeatedly. We did not get a response,” Team Liquid PH explained on a social media post.
Due to the time constraints, they reportedly had only five business days to find a replacement. The organization claims that Oheb’s actions constitute a breach of contract. That said, Team Liquid PH is pursuing legal action against the pro player.
The AeronnShikii gamble
In response to Oheb’s departure, Team Liquid PH signed Indonesian Gold Laner, Sultan “AeronnShikii” Muhammad. This turned into one of the most talked-about cross-regional transfers of the offseason. Unfortunately, his MPL PH debut did not pull through due to pending administrative requirements.
“With no available Tier 1 Gold laners in the Philippines on that timeline, we looked outside PH and brought in AeronnShikii. He had other offers. He chose us […] The problem was timing. We announced him before we had full clarity on when his pending administrative requirements would be resolved. That was a mistake we own. When we finally got clarity, the range was anywhere from mid-season to the start of playoffs.”
This season has a lot at stake. Not only is it a regional event, but it’s also a qualifier for who gets to compete in the upcoming MSC at EWC 2026. That said, the organization decided to release AeronnShikii from the roster.
Luckily, Team Liquid PH had a surplus of promising Gold Laners. To fill the missing spot, Dave “Teddyqt” Viaña has been promoted from the academy lineup to the MPL roster. The organization assured fans that he earned his promotion and that this is not a rushed decision.
Team Liquid PH apologizes for staying quiet
In the post’s closing statement, Team Liquid PH apologized to fans for not giving them the full context until it became a bigger issue.
“We are committed to doing better. Not just in competition, but in how we communicate with you. You should not have to piece things together from rumors and speculation. When we can share something, we will. To every fan who supports Team Liquid, online or in the stands, here in PH and everywhere in the world: thank you. Your energy, your voices, your belief in this team is what keeps us going.”
That said, Team Liquid PH is still dedicated to winning the MPL PH Season 17 trophy. They still have a throne to defend in the MSC and EWC 2026. It will be interesting to see if the team can keep their champion-caliber performance despite the roster shakeup.
“Public statements are not a substitute for direct engagement,” Oheb responds to Team Liquid PH post
Following the post from Team Liquid PH, Oheb’s lawyer made a post responding to the claims. According to them, “Public statements are not a substitute for direct engagement.” The lawyer also criticized the claim that Team Liquid PH had to fix their roster on short notice.
“We also note that Team Liquid Philippines was able to continue its participation in the season without delay and even achieve competitive success. Any assertion of disruption must be viewed in light of these facts.”
The post claimed Oheb stayed quiet out of respect. However, the statement also made it clear that this restraint should not be misinterpreted or used against him. They further stressed that the matter has now moved into legal channels. According to the law firm, the situation goes beyond a single player dispute and reflects broader concerns within the esports industry. Particularly when it comes to ensuring fair and balanced agreements for professional players.
We’ll keep an eye on how this situation develops and update this article as things progress.