BRINGING home the trophy, Aurora Gaming PH shocks the Indonesian crowd as they sweep Alter Ego (AE) 4-0 at the Tennis Indoor Stadium Senayan, Jakarta, last Jan. 25, claiming the M7 World Championship and extending the 6-peat Filipino dynasty in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

Four Game Sweep

AE were considered the favorites for the championship, as they dominated the lower bracket, defeating notable teams such as Team Spirit and Team Liquid PH and even the highly favored Selangor Red Giants (SRG). Although Aurora were not entirely considered underdogs after defeating Alter Ego 3–1 in the upper-bracket semifinals, their tendency to fall short on the biggest stages prevented them from being viewed as clear favorites.

Alter Ego seized early momentum in game 1 by drawing first blood; however, Aurora quickly turned the tide. Through advanced rotations, superior objective control, and consistent vision denial, Aurora dismantled Alter Ego’s map presence, claiming turrets across all lanes and winning every crucial team clash. By the 14-minute mark, Aurora had established a commanding net-worth lead, leaving AE unable to defend their base as the item gap became insurmountable. Aurora closed out the match convincingly to take Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. 

As both teams adjusted their picks and plays, game 2 began, with both teams testing each other and not committing to team clashes. Aurora Gaming PH gained an advantage by securing the 2nd turtle early and winning the first team fight, taking down 3 heroes of the opposing team. Building on this advantage, Aurora continued to dominate by applying lane pressure. 

Despite a close game, Aurora continues to widen the gap, carrying the momentum from the previous game. Light the team’s roam delivers an impact with his roam support skills, while Edward dominates the exp lane. With this, Aurora takes the lead with a score of 2-0.

With a chance to extend the lead to 3-0, Aurora Gaming PH did not waste any chances. With the shown hero picks, it initially appeared that AE was at an advantage. Yet, much like the previous games, it eventually did not matter. Aurora asserted dominance early by gaining a large gold advantage and had a blowout win, securing the match point 3-0.

One win away from the championship, Aurora capitalizes heavily on AE’s shortcomings despite the latter’s seemingly draft advantages. AE struggled to secure the objectives and failed to prioritize defeating the opposing team's EXP laner, allowing Aurora's good coordination and communication to take over. Aurora Gaming PH seemed too much to handle, hence ending the game 4 with a win, completing the best of 7 series, and winning the M7 World Championship Grand Finals with a commanding 4–0 victory.

Rewriting the Narrative

From being labeled as chokers to now standing as champions, Aurora Gaming’s M7 triumph marks a true redemption story. After a dominant season run leading into M6, their championship aspirations ultimately fell short following a defeat to Team Liquid Indonesia. That disappointment only fueled their resolve, culminating in a historic M7 victory.

For Dylan Aaron “Light” Catipon—roamer of the team, being named the Finals MVP reflects his hard work and resilience throughout the tournament. He shared that this award means a lot to him, as it shows the accumulation of all his hard work, and he expressed heartfelt gratitude to his teammates and his girlfriend, who pushed him to his best and consistently supported him.

The Dynasty Lives On

This victory proves that the Filipino era in MLBB is far from over, continuing a legacy established by Philippine teams that triumphed in past M-Series tournaments: Blacklist International (Philippines) in M3, Team ECHO Philippines in M4, Aces Pro Bren in M5, Fnatic ONIC Philippines (FNOP) in M6, and now the reigning champions, Aurora Gaming PH, in M7. This sustained dominance shows that Filipino teams will continue to conquer and triumph in the years to come.