Dogie, TNC, and the Crucible of Defeat
There are a hundred words to describe MLBB impresario Naser “Dogie” Mollazehi, aka “Setsuna Ignacio”: He is clamorous, sensational, and many times brash, but he is neither egotistic nor messianic.
He is not here to act as the savior of anyone, much less of TNC.
“I didn’t come to save them,” Dogie began, referring to his decision to join TNC, one of the remaining Filipino teams in the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL). “That’s too strong of a word, to ‘save’ them,” he said, shaking his head slightly as if the idea seemed foreign to him. “But I came because it’s a Filipino team.”
Right now, Dogie is in a crucible of defeat—a relentless trial by fire where five seasons of losses have forged an uphill battle that could either break him or transform TNC into something greater. Can he endure it? Will he emerge victorious or remain trapped in the flames? And more importantly, why did he risk everything on TNC in the first place?
ALSO READ:
There was a time when MPL Philippines was dominated by native esports organizations such as Sunsparks, Aether, BREN Esports, Blacklist International, Cignal Ultra, TNC, and many others. Now, only a few homegrown teams are competing at the MPL.
“Puno na tayo ng overseas teams,” Dogie said. He reflected on the takeover by overseas teams of the local MLBB professional esports scene.
“Pinusuan ko yung TNC kasi Pinoy eh, andon eh. Since wala na yung Blacklist din. AP BREN, TNC, pati na rin Omega yung natitirang Philippine team. Omega, well is Smart, like Smart ‘yon, malaking kompanya ‘yon. But another entity, wala na,” Dogie told ALL-STAR.
Dogie: “I learned to grow up.”
Dogie is no longer the same Dogie from Aether and Nexplay Days. Right now, he’s more serious and strategic about his game, fully hands-on with TNC’s uphill battle.
He’s also learned painful lessons from mistakes he’s careful not to repeat this time around. Unlike his days back in Aether and Nexplay, he no longer considers the players as his “tropa.”
“I learned to grow up. Kasi ‘pag nakasama mo yung mga bata na ‘to, magiging ugaling bata ka,” said Dogie.
“Honestly, sa loob ng boot camp, kapag kasama mo mga bata, magiging ugaling bata ka. So, tinanggal ko yung attachment na ‘yon since may anak na ako. I think I need to be a parent—stricter, and more result-driven at this point.”
Joshua Angeles, one of TNC’s executives, related how Dogie has dramatically changed from the past seasons.
“I was very impressed with how Dogie is taking this very seriously,” said Angeles.
Even though Dogie lives in Pangasinan, he comes to the boot camp very early every day to oversee everything. In the past, everything is just content for Dogie—from scrimmages to everyday life inside the boot camp.
But now, it’s different.
“Hindi na ako nagva-vlog, ‘di tulad ng dati, kasi focus talaga sa winning. May time talaga ako puntahan talaga sila at kausapin sila individually and as a team din,” Dogie said.
He arrives at the boot camp two hours before scrimmages to talk to the players and get everyone on the same page, wavelength, and energy.
“I think being late is not professional in any kind of work. Work ethic pa lang eh, sa akin hindi talaga pwede yung late,” said Dogie.
It’s part of the rigid discipline he’s picked up working various jobs in Belgium for years.
“I think that’s part of work ethic talaga. Kailangan talaga since si Boss Josh naman, syempre busy din siya and may time ako,” he added.
Dogie’s greatest fear: losing players.
When Dogie’s “Big Three”—Renejay, Yawi, and H2Wo—left for other teams, he put on a brave face, acting as if it didn’t hurt. But for the first time, he finally admitted—it did.
“What’s your greatest fear as an esports boss?” we asked him.
“My greatest fear? Wow…”
He paused.
“Yung mawalan ulit ng player tulad noong dati. Nawala sa akin si H2wo, Renejay, pati Yawi. I think that’s the hardest part.”
Renejay, Yawi, and H2W0 are like brothers to Dogie, living a good part of their teenage years inside his boot camp. But they left him, one by one.
He knew it was for the best.
He admits it was the best for them. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.
“That’s my fear right now and ayoko maulit ‘yon. That’s why I am doing my best to keep this team, keep winning, and malapit yung puso nila sa akin, malapit din yung puso ko sa kanila. But still, we have to make a barrier na business-driven pa rin. But still, focus pa rin sa goal.”
“Season 1, that’s something no one can take away from me.”
We tried to understand why Dogie is running on high-octane energy, operating at full throttle, nonstop and relentless. Is he chasing glory? Seeking redemption? Or is there something even deeper driving him?
After becoming the MPL’s very first champion in Season 1, is Dogie aiming for a repeat, considering the succeeding 14 seasons were all futile for him?
“Season 1, that’s something no one can take away from me, and thank God—I am very thankful to God na nakuha ko ‘yon. Kasi Season 1 ‘yon eh, that’s history diba. Unang liga and thank God yung mga players ay nagtiwala sa akin.”
“The past few teams na sinalihan ko, parang sinamahan ko, for example, Nexplay, more on focus kami noon sa content. Yes, we have MPL but we focused on content and marketing. Here in TNC, we’re not focused on marketing, we’re focused on winning talaga. Iyon ang pinagkaiba. Hindi na ako nagva-vlog ‘di tulad ng dati kasi focus talaga sa winning. ”
Dogie: “Mahal ko ang Mobile Legends. Hindi ko to bibitawan.”
Dogie personally negotiated the buyout of TNC’s entire roster for Season 15, even funding the deal from his own pocket. But why did he invest so much time and money in a team that keeps losing?
After spending millions on buyouts for a team considered the worst in MPL history, what’s in it for Dogie?
“To be honest, walang ROI eh,” Dogie admitted.
“It’s the passion lang talaga. Ito yung nagpasikat sa akin. Mobile Legends yung nagdala sa akin sa mapa, ‘bat ko bibitawan? Mahal ko yung game. Kahit sabihin nating pumapalya sa MPL, hindi ako nabibigyan ng kung ano-ano. Okay lang. Mahal ko yung game. Sobrang mahal ko yung game. Sobrang mahal ko yung game, iyon lang talaga.”
“Deep inside, ito yung nagpasikat sa akin, thankful ako, grateful ako sa Mobile Legends, thankful ako sa fans, thankful ako kay God, thankful ako sa TNC. Hindi ko ‘to bibitawan. Hannga’t kaya kong pondohan, po-pondohan ko.”
Dogie knows the odds are stacked against him. He’s poured his own money, time, and energy into a team that many have already written off. He’s been burned before—losing players, losing seasons, losing faith. But still, he fights. Not for content, not for clout, but for something far deeper.
This isn’t just another season for Dogie—it’s his crucible. A defining battle to prove that Filipino teams still deserve their place at the top, that passion can triumph over profit, and that Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will always be a part of him.
