The race for the Mobile Legends Development League Philippines (MDL PH) Season 5 crown intensifies as eight teams move on to Round 2 of the play-ins after an exhilarating first round.
Sixteen teams were paired according to their Ranking matches which ended at the beginning of April, competing in a best-of-three, single-elimination format.
Top-seed Smart Omega NEOS maintained their dominance with a decisive sweep over 16th-seeded Gods of Edith. Eigth seed Martial Mayhem also secured a 2-0 victory, but had to battle for nearly 53 minutes to overcome 9th seed Minerva Esports while fifth-seeded ONIC x Nine Lives continued their unbeaten run, easily defeating 12th seed Flair Esports in two games.
Season 3 champions RRQ Kaito showed their strength with a solid performance against 11th seed Metacore CE. Tenth seed Aurora Hunters survived seventh seed Karibok Heroes in three games while third seed AP.Bren x Rough World Era eliminated 14th seed Twisted Rising with a clean 2-0.
But the play-ins weren’t without their surprised as 13th-seeded Uncle Drew Gamerpact took down 3rd seed Team Falcons Academy with a 2-0 sweep but the biggest upset of the season would go to 15th seed TNC x Voltes PH, who swept second-seeded Team Liquid Academy, 2-0.
MDL Philippines returns next week with Round 2 of the Play-ins. Matches are as follows:
- Smart Omega NEOS vs. Martial Mayhem – April 29
- Uncle Drew Gamerpact vs. ONIC x Nine Lives – April 29
- RRQ Kaito vs. AP.Bren x Rough World Era – April 30
- Aurora Hunters vs. TNC x Voltes PH – April 30
