Jonard Cedrix “Demonkite” Caranto delivered a masterful performance at matchpoint, leading fourth-seeded Aurora to the Grand Finals of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 14 (MPL S14) playoffs.
Caranto’s X.Borg, at level 15, inflicted massive damage in the final moments of Game 6, helping Aurora secure a 4-2 victory over the heavily favored Falcons AP.Bren in their best-of-seven lower bracket finals on Saturday evening at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati.
“Malaking damage po ang nagawa ng X.Borg,” Caranto remarked after his heroics helped Aurora advance to a best-of-seven Grand Finals clash with Fnatic-Onic Philippines.
Aurora dominated the series with scores of 21-3, 6-11, 12-4, 11-2, 12-16, and 14-5, capping off the showdown with a decisive Game 6. Caranto’s X.Borg dealt roughly 1,500 points of damage per hit, racking up seven kills and 11 assists in a swift 14-5 victory that lasted just 13 minutes and 15 seconds.
Aurora’s head coach, Aniel Jiandani, expressed his pride in the team’s achievement as they prepare for the Grand Finals. “This is my first time in the Grand Finals as a coach. But I couldn’t have done this without these guys,” Jiandani said.
Aurora not only secured their place in the Grand Finals but also earned a seat at the M6 World Championships, joining Fnatic-Onic Philippines on the global stage. This victory denied the Falcons, also known as the Beasts, a chance to defend their title after winning the M5 World Championships last year.
A pivotal moment in the series came in Game 4 when Edward “Dapadap” Dapadap’s tank-marksman hero, Edith, achieved a triple kill within the first six minutes, propelling Aurora to a commanding 3-1 lead.
Aurora’s lower bracket finals berth was solidified after they swept Blacklist International 3-0 on Friday. As a newly formed squad this season, Aurora proved their worth, with Jan “Domeng” Del Mundo taking charge in a critical 16-minute, 24-second Game 3 clash, posting six kills, one death, and one assist.
