TNC Pro Team: ‘Deja Vu,’ But Still Got ‘Guts’
Photo from MPL Philippines / Richard Esguerra
TNC Pro Team: ‘Deja Vu,’ But Still Got ‘Guts’
The Phoenix Army had their hopes high last Season 15 as TNC Pro Team managed to break their non-playoff curse after five long seasons. However, they saw another chapter of the seemingly never-ending cycle of rinse and repeat.
New players arrived, coaching staff changed, and their identity took on a new form. But unlike their previous iterations, their fire continued to burn into Season 16. They may have stayed in the same spot, with the same frustrations, but this time, their familiarity with one another became the key to their steady flight.
making the bed
The Phoenixes saw several key departures from their previous season’s roster. Salvick “Kouzen” Tolarba took flight to Cambodia, John Marl “Lord JM” Sebastian moved to AP.Bren, and Kyle “Koyl” Reyes went inactive.
Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera also pursued other ventures, while coaches Douglas Joseph “ImbaDeejay” Astibe and Luigi “Xemy” Macabingkel were let go.
Patrick “E2MAX” Caidic made his long-awaited return—this time as head coach after a stint with Indonesia’s Bigetron Esports. Alongside him were sixth-man-turned-coach Robert “Hito” Candoy and their former Smart Omega teammate, and perhaps their biggest signing, Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog.
Through all the change, TNC became the quintessential “alright” team—too good to falter, but not yet good enough to break the ceiling.
enough for you (?)
TNC proved to be one of the most unpredictable sides this season, playing a league-high 37 games, including nine full best-of-three series. But while they often went the distance, they only managed to win three of those Game 3s—an unfortunate league-worst 33.33%.
Their frustration in closing out games cost them precious points, extending their skid to three straight series losses. With the Project NEXT 2025 patch shaking up the meta, TNC only managed two series wins in the second half of the season, going 8-for-19 in games—an abysmal 42% win rate.
Still, they held a silver lining: their versatility. TNC used a league-high 50 unique heroes—38.46% of the entire MLBB roster pool. That unpredictability might just be their secret weapon in the postseason.
get him back (on former glory)
One man stood at the center of their spark —Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog. After a rough Season 15 run with Smart Omega, the veteran roamer rediscovered his rhythm under friend E2MAX’s guidance.
Ch4knu used the most unique heroes in the entire league with 16, two more than both Duane “Kelra” Pillas and Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo. His hero pool included one-off surprises like Mathilda, Chip, and his signature Khufra—but it was Gatotkaca that became his anchor, winning six of ten games.
He was also one of the hardest roamers to bring down, requiring an average of 40,000 damage points per death, all while ranking among the top five in total assists (247) and sixth in assists per game (6.68).
the grudge
Now, TNC faces a fitting rematch—against Twisted Minds PH, the same squad that nearly derailed their playoff hopes in Week 8. Their head-to-head stands at one series apiece, each with a 3–3 game record. This best-of-five will decide who flies higher.
What’s even funnier is they found themselves in the same scenario with the same team to get into the playoffs last season: TNC lost to Twisted Minds, but they needed an Omega defeat against the league leaders to secure their spot.
The Phoenix Army still believes in their boys—still hopes that this team can rewrite its story and finally break the cycle.
They’ve had a SOUR regular season, full of heartbreak, frustration, and missed chances. But come playoffs, they’ll prove they still have the GUTS to fight for more.
(Stats courtesy of MPL Philippines, Drew Malihan, and Jesus Evan Bonjibod)
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