ONIC PH absorbed a shocking defeat at the hands of Aurora Turkey in its opening match at the 2025 Mid Season Cup this Thursday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Composed of its M6 world championship and MPL Season 14 champion roster of Kelra, K1ngkong, Brusko, Kirk, and Super Frince, ONIC PH dropped the opening game against the Master the Basics and Dex Star-coached lineup of Lunar, Tienzy, Rosa, Sigibum, and APEX47.

ONIC PH tied the series in Game 2, only to lose yet again in the deciding stanza, where Aurora Turkey outlasted the Filipinos with an Edith, Yi Sun-Shin, Selena, Ruby, and Gatotkaca in 20 hard-fought minutes to advance to the upper bracket semifinal of Group B.

It was a huge upset to say the least, given that ONIC PH is one of the favorites to win the prestigious international tournament. Still, ONIC PH can still redeem themselves but will have to do so the hard way by crawling their way out of do-or-die matches in the lower bracket.