The inaugural week of MPL Indonesia Season 13 ended with a series of disappointments for teams which heavily featuring Filipino compositions. Despite early-season hype, both Aura Fire and Evos Glory failed to demonstrate significant improvements following lackluster preseason performances.
Aura Fire, boasting the talents of MLBB M-series and MPL PH champion Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera, stumbled in their opening match against underdogs Dewa United on Saturday (3/9). Struggling to match the pace set by Dewa United’s Indra “Keyz” Setiawan and Juli “Kimura” Kimura, Aura Fire faltered, unable to execute their strategies effectively.
Their woes continued into the subsequent matchday against the powerhouse RRQ Hoshi on Sunday (3/10). Althought Aura boys managed to grab a hard-earned victory in the first game, RRQ Hoshi swiftly adapted to their tactics to claim the series.
The identical storyline unfolded for Evos Glory. Despite the hype surrounding their debut in MPL ID, Jon “Super Red” Bordeos and head coach John “Theo” Eusebio were unable to orchestrate a sweet debut. Instead, they suffered successive heavy defeats at the hands of Alter Ego and Bigetron. Even worse, Evos failed in securing pivotal objectives across both encounters.
In contrast, Bigetron’s recent signing, Emman “Emman” Sangco, emerged as a standout newcomer, capturing the attention of MPL ID fans. Despite initial overshadowing by his senior Filipino players who arrived in Indonesia, Emman showcased impressive performances, hinting at his potential to become a breakout Filipino star of the season.
As the regular season of MPL ID S13 progresses, both Aura Fire and Evos Glory must capitalize on the days leading up to matchweek 2 to refine their strategies and reverse their downward trajectory. Last season’s data suggests that both teams tend to struggle during similar phases, emphasizing the importance of timely adjustments and renewed determination.
