Demonkite pointed to execution and in-game adaptation as Aurora Gaming PH fell to ONIC ID in the semifinals of the Games of the Future 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
Aurora PH’s run at the Games of the Future 2025 came to a halt after a 0–2 semifinal loss to Indonesian powerhouse ONIC ID in the Games of the Future 2025 on Monday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
After the match, Aurora PH's jungler Jonard "Demonkite" Caranto was candid in assessing both the series and his own performance, admitting disappointment with how the semifinal unfolded.
“I’m a little bit disappointed because, for me especially, I think I didn’t perform so well in the semi-finals match,” Demonkite said.
From Aurora’s side, the series never quite settled into a comfortable rhythm. Demonkite described the pressure applied by ONIC as constant and disruptive, making it difficult for Aurora to execute their usual game flow.
“It felt like a lot of pressure, like there’s a stone in front of us. It was very hard to play the game smoothly, and I think ONIC prepared to really counter heroes,” he said.
Asked about when momentum began to swing decisively, Demonkite pointed to an early moment in the opening game.
“I think in game one, when I died in the mid lane, and then the enemy started to play aggressively, then we cannot team fight them anymore,” he explained.
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That early shift allowed ONIC ID to dictate the pace, repeatedly forcing engagements on their terms and limiting Aurora’s ability to recover control across both games of the series.
On the drafting phase, Demonkite downplayed any major issues, stressing that the difference came down more to execution and adaptation than hero selection.
“I think in-game adaptation, and I think in the draft it’s only 50/50. It also depends on the execution,” he said.
“The draft is very normal, nothing strange, and just the execution—ONIC just overpowered us.”
Despite the setback, Aurora PH will now shift its focus to the third-place match against Chinese team DianFengYaoGuai, aiming to end its Abu Dhabi campaign on a positive note.
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad/One Sports Digital)
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
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