TNC Pro Team ML has started to tweak its roster for next season as it hopes to rebound from a dismal campaign in the MPL Philippines Season 8.
TNC, which failed to qualify to the playoffs, was serious in its bid to improve its roster as it surprisingly released two of its key players in the team’s first two seasons in MPL.
The team announced the release of its former captain and roaming Dylan “Light” Catipon and mid laner Patrick “P-GOD” Ibarra along with veteran Douglas “ImbaDeejay” Astibe on Monday, Nov 8.
"Thank you Light, P-God and Imbadeejay! We're grateful for the time you spent with TNC. We wish you the best in your future careers! May you remember to always rise," said TNC in an announcement.
Both Light and P-God, then under the IGNs “Unravel” and “Rtzy”, were key cogs when Work Auster Force took MPL PH by storm in Season 7 following an impressive run in the MPL Qualifiers. The two continued to be a force after TNC acquired the Work team prior to MPL Season 8.
Imbaeejay meanwhile didn’t see action in MPL Season 8 after TNC acquired him from Cignal Ultra.
Expectations were high for the TNC squad especially after a solid rookie run from the Work core players and the team also getting major boosts with the addition of veterans in Imbadeejay and Adrian “Toshi” Bacallo from Omega Esports.
The crew however failed to live up to the expectation as TNC struggled all tournament long with only four victories to show through 14 games. TNC even had a six-game losing streak in the middle of the season as the team struggled to find the perfect combination of players in its main five.
The other former Work players Daniel “Chuuu” Chu, Frediemar “3MarTzy” Serafico, Clarense “Kousei” Guzman are still with the team together with incoming sophomores Landher “Der” San Gabriel, and Ben “Benthings” Maglaque and Toshi.