Sanji erupts with career-first savage as Team Liquid PH surges past AP.Bren in MPL PH Season 16

Alston “Sanji” Pabico turned in the finest performance of his young career as Team Liquid PH (TLPH) extended their winning streak to four matches with a decisive 2-0 sweep over AP.Bren in Week 4 of MPL Philippines Season 16, Sunday evening at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.

The victory pushed TLPH to a 5-2 record, locking them into solo third place behind Aurora Gaming (6-1) and ONIC Philippines (5-2), while AP.Bren slipped further down the standings at 2-5, raising questions about their ability to recover in the second half of the regular season.

In Game 1, Sanji showcased his mastery of Zhuxin, piloting the hero with confidence and mechanical precision. He capped the 19-minute clash by securing the first Savage of his professional MPL career, electrifying the live crowd and his teammates alike. Sanji ended with a 6-1-5 KDA, controlling the map and capitalizing on every misstep by AP.Bren.

“That Savage just showed how comfortable Sanji is becoming as a playmaker,” noted one analyst on the MPL PH broadcast. “He’s no longer just filling in—he’s dictating the pace.”

Riding the momentum, Sanji swapped to Selena in Game 2 and once again dictated tempo with his aggressive rotations and timely Abyssal Arrows. His playmaking kept AP.Bren on the back foot throughout, as Team Liquid cruised to another one-sided win to complete the sweep.

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Alston “Sanji” Pabico secured a rare savage to propel the surging Team Liquid to a 2-0 win over AP.Bren in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 16 on Sunday.

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While Sanji stole the spotlight, the victory was built on a balanced team effort. Star gold laner Super Marco consistently applied lane pressure, while frontliners created the space Sanji needed to thrive. Team Liquid’s coordination—especially around Lord takes and map control—proved too much for AP.Bren, who struggled to answer TLPH’s proactive plays.

The sweep also highlighted TLPH’s growing synergy after a rocky 1-2 start to the season. With four straight victories, the team has not only regained momentum but also positioned itself as a legitimate threat to the league’s frontrunners.

Team Liquid PH now face their biggest test yet: a Week 5 showdown with ONIC Philippines on September 30, a clash that could determine who secures solo second place behind Aurora Gaming.

For Sanji, the challenge is to build on his breakthrough performance and prove that his Savage was not a one-off moment, but the beginning of his rise as one of MPL PH’s premier midlaners.

Meanwhile, AP.Bren must regroup quickly if they hope to salvage their playoff bid. With five losses in seven outings, their margin for error is shrinking fast.

With the season heating up, all eyes will be on whether Sanji and Team Liquid PH can sustain their upward trajectory—or if ONIC PH will put an end to their streak. 

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