What TNC Needs to Do To Win the Championship

TNC’s journey in MPL Philippines Season 15 has been a rollercoaster—packed with high-octane plays and mechanical prowess, yet consistently stumbling when it comes to closing out crucial series. While they’ve secured a spot in the playoffs, their struggle against the top four teams—Team Liquid, Aurora, ONIC, and Falcons—has exposed gaps in their decision-making and discipline.

To get a clearer picture of TNC’s strengths and areas for improvement, we spoke to MPL casters Chantelle Hernandez and Renmar “Reptar” Sta. Cruz. 

Their insights highlight TNC’s explosive nature reminiscent of the legendary “ECHO Express”, as well as the refinement needed to elevate them into a true championship contender.

TNC’s Explosiveness: A Nod to ECHO Express

One of the defining traits of TNC this season has been their explosive, high-tempo playstyle. According to Chantelle Hernandez, this aggressive approach is both their greatest weapon and their biggest challenge:

“Explosive sila, they have explosive plays. Their only problem is, when they play a game, they have a hard time closing it out. They haven’t won a series against the top four teams in Season 15.”

This kind of playstyle is reminiscent of ECHO Express, the fast-paced strategy associated with former ECHO star Yawi, who is now leading TNC’s charge. With BennyQT and Zaida—two former members of Team Liquid Philippines—also on board, it’s no surprise that TNC thrives in chaotic, skirmish-heavy situations. Their micro play is exceptional, allowing them to dominate fights mechanically without relying too heavily on draft advantages.

However, their inability to convert these explosive moments into series victories suggests that something is missing.

Refinement: The Key to Unlocking TNC’s Full Potential

While TNC has the tools to compete at the highest level, Renmar “Reptar” Sta. Cruz believes their best shot at the championship hinges on their refinement.

“It’s just a lot of making sure their discipline is on point, and them being able to make the right call at the right time. That’s the thing that they really want to improve on each week.”

TNC’s gameplay has moments of brilliance, but without consistency in decision-making and macro execution, they struggle against more structured teams. Renmar specifically pointed out their improved team fight responses against Team Falcons, highlighting:

• Zaida’s precision in hunting down key targets like Super Marco
  
• Yawi’s impact in securing early pickoffs on Pheww
  
• Lord JM’s ability to juggle roles, acting as both a subroamer and frontline anchor
  

These individual plays show that TNC has the pieces necessary to compete with the best, but they need to put it all together in a disciplined and structured way to turn strong individual performances into series wins.

“They’re a good balanced team, my thought about them always goes back to refinement, because they have all the tools. I strongly believe they can make it to top 4, maybe even threaten the top 3 by the end of the playoffs.”

The Next Step: Mastering the Art of Closing Out Games

TNC’s current issue isn’t about talent or even drafting—it’s about knowing how to finish what they start. Their aggressive early-game dominance needs to be paired with better late-game decision-making and macro-awareness.

If TNC can refine their timing, shot-calling, and series management, they have the potential to crack the top 4 and possibly shake up the league’s elite teams. But time is running out—will they level up their game in time for a deep playoff run?

The pieces are there. The explosiveness is undeniable. Now, it’s all about refinement and execution.