16/09/2025
STATUS OF TEAM EXPECTATIONS AFTER MPL Malaysia SEASON 16 WEEK 1
Just like last season, my opinions on which teams met expectations or not after Week 1 of Season 16
Untitled - I had high expectations of Untitled coming into S16 as the true dark horses of S15. So far they've proven they're just as strong, if not stronger, than before. A team that specializes in scrappy fights and has a lot of trust in each other, could definitely be new champion contenders going forward. Really doesn't feel like it's only their second MPL season as a team.
Monster Vicious - I had low expectations of MV's new roster, but they proved me wrong in the best way. Very solid drafts, strong understanding of their individual playstyles and how to mesh them together cohesively. The new imports seem to have fit in very quickly, and local favorites Unii and Momo be popping off. Very happy with their gameplay :3
Team Rey - One of the biggest roster reshuffles, I had good hopes for Team Rey, and they blew my expectations out of the water. Solid, controlled yet aggressive teamfight approaches, and impressive individual player performance. Jowm is still a beast with insane farm speed, and Dusk had a surprisingly strong objective-focused mindset as a rookie. Hope they stay consistent!
SRG.OG - Honestly I don't think this team can surpass expectations lol. I can't expect anything less than the best from them anymore xD
CG Esports - Had high expectations of CG as the all-star lineup, and so far they've met those hopes! Ciku's creative hero picks, Valenz's aggression, and solid gameplay from their new rookie Amziq make them look very good as a lineup. But their first opponent being GMXK means we haven't seen them truly tested yet.
Team Vamos - Had high expectations of Vamos since they're new players seemed suited for their aggressive playstyle. Their first match was quite disappointing, but their second match looked a lot better when they returned to the aggro snowball gameplay. If they were consistent from match 1, I would've put them higher, but I hope they keep their identitiy as scary mask-off MPL villains because it makes it fun xD
HomeBois - I had low expectations of Homebois' new lineup, and unfortunately they performed as expected. While it was impressive they took a game off SRG.OG, their gameplay still feels kinda shaky, and it's definitely not the same Homebois from S15. They need to figure out their new identity, and improve on shotcalling to stand a chance this season.
Aero Esports - I had high expectations of Aero, and they fell pretty short. Their last match vs DXS was pretty close, but their match vs Untitled was a one-sided defeat. It felt like they underestimated their opponents, and didn't properly prepare draft-wise to counter. I still think this team can grow, but their synergy needs a bit more work.
Todak - I didn't expect much from Todak, and I was still disappointed TwT. Their drafts were not bad at all, but the ex*****on was severely lacking. Dreams and Fawndeer don't really feel like they've meshed with the local players yet, and Zahyed was losing objectives left and right to a rookie. Zaim and Loleal don't seem to be operating all full power either. They need to lock in soon.
GamesMY Kelantan - As the newest team this season, I held some hope for GMXK, but they still fell short. Considering how one-sidedly they lost to CG, which is the team they should have the most experience facing, they got a lot of work to do to truly prepare for the MPL stage. Especially with a completely new meta coming soon.
