FEATURE: Team Liquid PH wins for family

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FEATURE: Team Liquid PH wins for family image

Photo: Team Liquid PH/FB

By Tiffany Dela Cruz

On the eve of one of its biggest matches in the MPL Philippines Season 17, Team Liquid PH found itself facing a test far greater than anything inside the Land of Dawn.

Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya, one of the team’s pillars, was suddenly called home after his grandmother was hospitalized, forcing him to leave the squad’s bootcamp in Parañaque and travel back to Pampanga.

What was supposed to be a routine night of preparation quickly turned into a moment that demanded perspective.

Without hesitation, Team Liquid head coach Wei Sheng “Aeon” Ong and the rest of the organization made the call to cancel their scrimmages ahead of their highly anticipated clash against Team Falcons PH.

“I don’t think this situation needs any explaining. It’s common sense to cancel the scrims because… I mean, family comes first, right?” said Aeon.

In a scene that underscored the human side of competition, the decision resonated across everyone involved—from players to staff—reminding them of the reason behind the grind.

“That’s the whole reason we’re doing everything that we are doing. For the players, for the coaches, for the management, for you guys (media), even,” he added.

Preparation took a backseat, but belief did not. Even with disrupted routines and less time to fine-tune their strategies, Team Liquid PH chose to trust in the work they had already put in.

“So when I heard of the situation, I think yeah, we can say it regardless we are ready or not. But I also think we are ready. So I’m not worried at all,” Aeon said.

That quiet confidence carried over into match day, where Team Liquid stepped onto the stage not as a team shaken by circumstance, but one grounded by purpose.

Against Team Falcons, the squad delivered when it mattered most, overcoming the odds—and the emotional weight of the previous night—to secure a massive 2-1 reverse sweep.

In the end, it wasn’t just a victory in the standings.

It was a reminder that even in the highest levels of competition, some priorities remain non-negotiable—and sometimes, putting family first is what makes a team stronger.

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