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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Esports devider TLPH keeps title-retention bid alive; TNC scores playoff breakthrough

TLPH keeps title-retention bid alive; TNC scores playoff breakthrough

Published Oct 23, 2025 12:35 am

At A Glance

  • Team Liquid PH kept its title-retention bid alive while TNC Pro-Team finally got over the first round hump after they dispatched their respective foes in the opening day of the MPL Philippines Season 16 playoffs at the Cuneta Astrodome on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Team Liquid PH kept its title-retention bid alive while TNC Pro-Team finally got over the first round hump after they dispatched their respective foes in the opening day of the MPL Philippines Season 16 playoffs at the Cuneta Astrodome on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
The defending champion TLPH made quick work of Falcon Esports, 3-1, while TNC outlasted Twisted Mind, 3-2, to advance to the upper bracket semis.
The Cavalry went off to a blazing start with Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya and Kiel “Oheb” Soriano taking turns to give TLPH an early 2-0 advantage.
Team Falcons did get on the board behind a Game 3 fightback but Karl “Karltzy” Nepomuceno and the rest of TLPH were simply too poised as they essayed a dominant series-clinching Game 4 win.
With the victory, the reigning champion arranged a rematch against last season Finals opponent Onic Philippines which finished the regular season as the second seed.
Meanwhile, Justine “Zaida” Palma took over in the deciding Game 5 with the signature Fanny pick to help TNC finally advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time after seven seasons.
Zaida put together a spotless 8-0-0 record to lift his team to an upper bracket semis showdown against top seed Aurora.
It was actually a back-and-forth affair between TNC and TWIS through the first four games but the Phoenix Army dominated the decider en route to an assured Top 4 finish
The last time TNC got past the first round of the playoffs was during Season 9 or when the team finished third in the tournament – by far the highest placing the franchise had in the MPL Philippines.
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