Fnatic ONIC PH stands as the Philippines’ sole contender in the quest for five consecutive MLBB world titles at the M6 World Championship. Coach YnoT expresses confidence in his team’s capabilities. The Filipino Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) powerhouse, Fnatic ONIC PH, has showcased remarkable dominance in the M6 World Championship, advancing to the upper bracket finals on the second day of the Knockout Stage.

Expectations were high for Fnatic ONIC PH, who qualified for M6 as champions of the MLBB Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 14, completing the Regular Season with an impressive record. This performance positioned them as one of the top favorites for this year’s MLBB world championship. Thus far, Fnatic ONIC PH has lived up to the hype, easily navigating the M6 Swiss Stage in three rounds to secure a spot in the Knockout Stage. There, they defeated another strong contender, Selangor Red Giants, in the upper bracket finals, and triumphed in a thrilling five-game match against Falcon Esports in the upper bracket semifinals.

With just two more series victories required to clinch the M6 trophy, the pressure is mounting on Fnatic ONIC PH. The remaining seven competitors now view them as the team to beat.

In an exclusive interview with GosuGamers, coach Anthony “YnoT” Senedrin emphasized that his team is well-prepared to face the challenges of MLBB’s premier stage.

“Pressure is automatic with the idea of being here in M6 already. I mean, the additional thought of being the only Filipino team left, I don’t think we mind it too much. I think it’s all the same. At the end of the day, we came here knowing that it’s us against the world. So as long as we have that grasp of trust with each other, as long as we understand that we can do anything as long as we work together, I think we’ll be okay.”

Fnatic ONIC PH: A Symbol of National Pride

The stakes are high for Fnatic ONIC PH as they strive for victory in M6, representing national pride for the Philippines.

Filipino teams have claimed the MLBB world championship title for the past four years. If Fnatic ONIC PH secures a win in M6, it would mark five consecutive years of Filipino dominance in MLBB—an achievement reminiscent of South Korea’s early reign in StarCraft.

Unlike previous championships, M6 features only one Filipino team, Fnatic ONIC PH, in the Top 8, as the other qualifying team, Aurora Gaming, did not advance past the Swiss Stage.

YnoT’s assertion rings true: Fnatic ONIC PH stands alone in their battle against the world. They have already faced and triumphed over challengers from Indonesia, Cambodia, North America, and Myanmar. Their next challenge in the upper bracket finals will be against Indonesia’s Team Liquid ID, a team they previously defeated in the Swiss Stage first round.

However, this rematch will not be straightforward. The recent five-game battle against Falcon Esports serves as a testament to the challenges ahead. While the team emerged victorious, YnoT views the experience as a crucial learning opportunity for future matches.

“I’m pretty sure I’m going to have long nights thinking about some of the picks that I could have picked, some of the bans that I could have banned [versus Falcon Esports]. But again, that’s just a part of it. Another part of it would be how the team executes with whatever heroes that we pick. So it’s really a good thing that me and the players understand this and we don’t really point fingers or anything. It’s more of us being a collective with our thoughts and ideas and making sure that next time we do better in both those aspects.”

Despite Fnatic ONIC PH’s impressive performance in M6, YnoT believes there is still room for improvement. He highlighted areas such as map movement, rotations, and teamfight spacing that require attention. Moreover, YnoT acknowledged that Fnatic ONIC PH is not the strongest team in the tournament, emphasizing the need for preparation and execution to secure the championship.

“We ain’t the strongest; all the teams here are competitive, and again, we need to get the proper tools that we need in order to have a good fight. I think anyone can give us a tough time. RRQ Hoshi can, Team Liquid ID can. But at the end of the day, I think what’s most important is us, how we do it, how I draft, how the players execute. Now it’s back to the drawing board, making sure that we would be up to date with our next opponent. Making sure that all the cards that should be or could be shown to us, we’d know how to play it.”

YnoT looks forward to facing Team Liquid ID again for a chance to compete in the M6 grand finals. Although Fnatic ONIC PH defeated the Indonesian team in the Swiss Stage, that match was only a single game. Team Liquid ID previously triumphed over Fnatic ONIC PH in a best-of-three series during the Snapdragon Pro Series Season 6 APAC – Open Finals just before M6. The outcome of this high-stakes best-of-five matchup remains uncertain.

Additionally, the rivalry between the Philippines and Indonesia adds another layer of intensity, as Indonesia claimed the inaugural MLBB world title before the Philippines took the lead. National pride is at stake for both countries, with fans eager to see stars like King “K1ngkong” Perez and Duane “Kelra” Pillas face off against Indonesia’s Favian “Faviannn” Putra and Sultan “Aeron” Muhammad.

Regardless of the outcome in Fnatic ONIC PH’s upcoming match against Team Liquid ID and any subsequent games, YnoT emphasizes that the key to success lies in their preparation and execution. The results will ultimately reflect their efforts.

“Having the idea of that Favian-Kingkong matchup again, that Aeronshiki-Kelra matchup again. I’m pretty sure the players would appreciate that. But whoever rises up to the challenge, I’m pretty sure my team won’t back down. I mean, to be honest, it’s anyone at this point. What’s most important to me is us executing to a T. What we need to do, it’s us making sure that we’re in a proper state of mind.”

The M6 World Championship is scheduled from November 21 to December 15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, divided into three phases: the Wildcard Stage from November 21 to 24, the Swiss Stage from November 28 to December 5, and the Knockout Stage from December 7 to 15.

Sixteen teams qualified for the Swiss Stage after a challenging Wildcard Stage, and all participants will battle fiercely, as only eight slots are available for the Knockout Stage. For more information about the M6 World Championship, check here.