Philippines Assembles MLBB Superstars for Inaugural ENC 2026
The Philippines is bringing its biggest MLBB stars to the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) this November, carrying both the weight of a No. 1 ranking and the desire for redemption after a heartbreaking MSC 2026 campaign.
Team Liquid PH’s two-time world champion jungler Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno leads the national team alongside fellow Cavalry standouts Jaypee “Jaypee” Dela Cruz at roamer and Alston “Sanji” Pabico at mid lane. Joining them are Team Falcons PH’s EXP laner David “Flap” Canon and gold laner Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano.
Rounding out the star-studded lineup are Filipino superstars Duane “Kelra” Pillas and Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol, who are both currently playing as imports for ONIC Indonesia.
The Philippines’ direct invitation comes as no surprise, with the country securing the top spot in the ENC Rankings with 12,550 points — a testament to the consistency and success of its players across international, regional, and select tournaments, including MSC Paris. Indonesia and Myanmar followed behind in second and third place, respectively.
Behind the No. 1 ranking, however, is a group of veterans looking to bounce back. Filipino representatives enter ENC 2026 after a difficult MSC 2026 run at the Esports World Cup (EWC), where Team Liquid’s unexpected early group-stage exit as defending champions became one of the biggest storylines on the international MLBB stage.
For KarlTzy, Jaypee, and Sanji, ENC 2026 represents a chance to reset the narrative. Once regarded as one of the world’s most dominant MLBB teams, Team Liquid PH struggled to find momentum in Paris, leaving the veteran core determined to return stronger on the international stage.
More than rankings and recognition, ENC 2026 gives the Filipino stars a chance to restore the country’s reputation as an MLBB powerhouse and prove that one disappointing tournament does not define their legacy.
Competing under the Philippine flag also gives the national team a chance to represent millions of Filipino fans who have helped turn MLBB into one of the country’s biggest esports communities.
With the invites now handed out, attention turns to the online regional qualifiers scheduled for August 15-16.
Teams across multiple regions will compete for the remaining slots in the inaugural tournament, with representatives from Western Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, MENA, Southeast Asia & Oceania, North America, South America, East Asia, South Asia, Central & West Africa, and Southern & East Africa fighting for their place at ENC 2026.
Wildcard invitations will decide the final two spots — one Host Region slot and one Solidarity slot — completing the lineup for the first-ever Esports Nations Cup.
The inaugural ENC MLBB tournament will take place from November 25 to 29 and feature a massive $1.5 million (₱92 million) prize pool.
