MLBB esports enters a new era. MPL Season 17 imports are rewriting the playbook for both the Philippines and Indonesia, with at least seven cross-regional player moves confirmed across the two strongest leagues in the world. No transfer window in MLBB history comes close.
Filipino stars are flying to Jakarta. Indonesian talent is landing in Manila. The two regions that have traded M-Series trophies for years now trade the players themselves.
Here is every confirmed cross-regional transfer, what each move means, and why the ripple effects will reach far beyond Season 17.
#Filipino Players Moving to MPL Indonesia Season 17
The Philippines has exported talent to MPL ID before. Kairi blazed that trail. But Season 17 turns a trickle into a flood.
Kelra to ONIC Esports (Gold Lane)
The biggest single move of the window. Duane "Kelra" Pillas leaves ONIC Philippines after four seasons to join the Indonesian franchise, reuniting with fellow Filipino Kairi under the same banner.
ONIC ID now fields arguably the most dangerous jungler-gold laner pairing in Southeast Asia. In an interview with Dunia Games, Kairi admitted that Kelra's arrival has "relieved pressure" he felt as the team's sole carry threat. Opponents can no longer funnel all defensive resources toward the jungle. They pick their poison.
Kelra's adaptation has been faster than expected. His Indonesian language skills are developing quickly, aided by Kairi's presence and the organizational infrastructure ONIC built from years of handling Filipino imports.
Pheww to EVOS Esports (Mid Lane)
Angelo "Pheww" Arcangel is a two-time M-Series world champion, an MSC winner, and a Hall of Legends inductee. He has played every season of MPL PH since the league's inception. Until now.
Pheww joins EVOS Esports on loan, replacing the mid lane slot on a squad that finished bottom of the MPL ID Season 14 standings. His explanation is refreshingly blunt: "We've been together for so long that we needed to try something new to keep growing."
The move carries risk. Pheww is ineligible for Week 1 of MPL ID Season 17 due to roster lock timing. He also faces the challenge of learning Indonesia's in-game communication shorthand from scratch. But EVOS is betting that his leadership and macro discipline will transform their younger core.
Superdann to RRQ Hoshi (EXP Lane)
Dan Nathaniel "Superdann" Yambao slots into the EXP lane for one of Indonesia's most decorated organizations. RRQ Hoshi rebuilt aggressively this offseason, pairing Dann with new jungler Super Kenn and mid laner Yehezkiel.
Coach Khezcute's rationale for the Filipino import is tactical. Dann brings what analysts have labeled "PH Discipline," meaning precise rotations, wave management, and a willingness to sacrifice lane advantages for team objectives. That philosophy contrasts sharply with the trade-heavy EXP lane approach common in MPL ID.
RRQ opens its season against NAVI on March 27. Dann's debut on Indonesian soil will be dissected frame by frame.
Andoryuuu to NAVI (Jungler)
Andrew "Andoryuuu" Lew Flora fills the jungle role for NAVI in MPL ID Season 17. While the Kelra and Pheww moves dominated headlines, Andoryuuu's signing is quietly significant. NAVI finished Season 16 as champions and clearly sees Filipino jungle talent as the edge needed to defend their title.
Kairi Remains at ONIC Esports (Jungler)
Kairi Rayosdelsol is not a new import, but context matters. He is the original Filipino trailblazer in MPL ID, the player who proved that cross-regional moves could work. Every Filipino import in Season 17 walks a path Kairi carved.
With Kelra now beside him, Kairi's ONIC ID enters the season as the consensus favorite. The Kairi-Kelra connection is the most talked-about duo heading into any MPL league this year.
#Indonesian Players Moving to MPL PH Season 17
For the first time in MPL Philippines history, the league welcomes Indonesian imports. Two gold laners arrive, and the reaction from Filipino fans and players has been intense.
Savero to ONIC Philippines (Gold Lane)
Clayton "Savero" Kuswanto becomes the first Indonesian import in MPL PH history. He won MPL ID Season 15 with ONIC Esports' main roster before moving to a substitute role when the team signed veteran Skylar.
Savero fills the void left by Kelra's departure. A direct swap between ONIC franchises across borders.
"I'm excited because I just want to prove myself here and because I'm playing in the strongest Mobile Legends region," Savero told local media during the MPL PH media day.
AeronnShikii to Team Liquid PH (Gold Lane)
Sultan "AeronnShikii" Muhammad is the second Indonesian import, joining Team Liquid PH for their title defense. He previously competed with AURA Esports and Team Liquid ID, helping the latter win MPL ID Season 14 before spending 2025 outside the main roster.
AeronnShikii steps into one of the heaviest shoes in Philippine MLBB: the gold lane seat vacated by Oheb. Reports indicate AeronnShikii had an emotional breakdown during a livestream under the weight of that pressure.
His teammate Bennyqt, the M4 World Championship MVP, has been publicly candid about the challenge ahead. "He has the hands, he has the talent," Bennyqt said. "But he needs to realize he's playing for a team that has already touched the sky. There is no room for 'learning' during the regular season."
#Why This MPL Season 17 Import Wave Matters
The Numbers Tell the Story
Seven cross-regional player moves in a single window. Five Filipino players in MPL ID. Two Indonesian players in MPL PH. Add Singaporean coach Aeon (formerly of Team Flash and Team SMG) joining Team Liquid PH, and the international footprint of Season 17 is unprecedented.
For comparison, MPL ID's entire Filipino import history before this window was essentially Kairi and a handful of others scattered across seasons. Now three new Filipino names join in a single offseason.
The Macro vs. Mechanical Debate
Bennyqt framed the cultural gap clearly: "Indo players are very mechanical, they love the 1v1 and the outplay. But in MPL PH, if you win your lane, the other four players will make sure you don't enjoy it. Our macro-discipline is what breaks imports."
This is not trash talk. It is a genuine strategic observation. Philippine MLBB prioritizes rotational discipline and team-fight coordination. Indonesian MLBB rewards lane dominance and individual outplays. Season 17 forces both philosophies into direct collision within each league.
The Indonesian imports in Manila must learn to sacrifice personal advantages for collective objectives. The Filipino imports in Jakarta must assert individual dominance in a league that respects it. Both adjustments cut against years of muscle memory.
What It Means for MSC 2026
The Mid-Season Cup returns as part of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh with a $3.5 million prize pool. MPL PH and MPL ID funnel their top teams into this tournament.
Cross-regional experience becomes a weapon. Teams fielding imports who understand both the PH macro system and the ID mechanical style hold a structural advantage in international drafts and rotations. ONIC ID with Kairi and Kelra, for instance, can switch between Filipino-style macro play and Indonesian-style aggression depending on the opponent.
The import wave does not just reshape domestic leagues. It breeds hybrid teams built for international competition.
#The Full MPL Season 17 Imports Tracker
Filipino Players in MPL Indonesia S17
- Kairi (ONIC Esports, Jungler, returning)
- Kelra (ONIC Esports, Gold Lane, new)
- Pheww (EVOS Esports, Mid Lane, new)
- Superdann (RRQ Hoshi, EXP Lane, new)
- Andoryuuu (NAVI, Jungler, new)
Indonesian Players in MPL Philippines S17
- Savero (ONIC Philippines, Gold Lane, new)
- AeronnShikii (Team Liquid PH, Gold Lane, new)
International Coaching Staff
- Coach Aeon (Team Liquid PH, Singaporean, new), profile
- Coach Panda (Bigetron by Vitality, South Korean, moved from RSG PH)
#Dates to Watch
MPL PH Season 17 opens on March 20 at Victoria Sports Tower. MPL ID Season 17 follows on March 27. The first weeks will reveal whether these cross-regional gambles pay immediate dividends or require time to develop.
The ONIC ID vs. RRQ Hoshi clash on March 29 puts Kairi and Kelra against Superdann in the first-ever all-Filipino import matchup on Indonesian soil. Circle it.
MLBB's two strongest regions no longer just compete against each other at international events. They compete through each other, with players embedded across both leagues, carrying the tactical DNA of one region into the heart of another. Season 17 is where the walls come down.
