The young and fiery TNC Pro Team bounced back in style on Sunday, August 23, overcoming Aurora Gaming 2–1 to finally break into the win column of MPL Philippines Season 18.
TNC Fires First, but RORA Hits Back
Both squads traded blows in the early minutes of Game 1. Koyl came out on top in the opening Retribution battle, but TNC struck back almost immediately, securing two quick kills in the mid lane.
TNC held a slight lead as the game progressed, but a mistake from RORA at the 10‑minute mark pulled them further ahead. The Northern Lights pounced on Zehn’s Belerick—only for the rookie to turn the tables with a perfectly timed Wrath of the Dryad, catching three enemies and allowing his team to secure three crucial kills.
Despite that, RORA’s sturdy defense dragged the match past the 20‑minute mark. But the Phoenix, still with the lead, locked down the Lord pit moments later. When Aurora moved in for the contest, TNC repelled the attempt and also eliminated Domeng. Behind heavy damage output from Zaida and Jowm, TNC secured the Game 1 win.
The Northern Lights wouldn’t go down without a fight, however, striking back with a decisive victory in Game 2. They broke open an even early game with a crucial four‑man wipe on TNC at the seven‑minute mark, highlighted by Domeng’s 3‑1‑3 start on Melissa.
From there, RORA kept their foot on the gas and closed out the game in just 12 minutes. Koyl put on a clinic with Suyou, finishing with a sharp 7‑2‑2 KDA, while Yue and Light provided steady impact throughout.
Unlike the first two games, the decider was a slow burner with both squads playing a patient macro game. That pace, however, favored Aurora as they secured all the major objectives in the first ten minutes and amassed nearly a 4k gold advantage.
By the 12‑minute mark, Aurora was in full command, stripping all of TNC’s outer turrets and breaching their base. Moving in for the finish, Domeng delivered a quick double‑kill to put TNC on the ropes. However, Zehn on Gloo had other plans. Making his way into the backline, he managed to catch Domeng, allowing his team to take the gold laner down and extend the fight.
Even so, the Northern Lights secured the next Lord and launched another base siege. However, Zehn came up big once more, this time picking off Koyl with key follow‑up from Vinnn to help TNC hold the line and survive yet another assault.
TNC Pulls Off a Statement Win
The game‑defining moment arrived at the 17‑minute Lord contest. While Koyl managed to secure the objective, Ryota on Belerick turned the game on its head, landing a massive Wrath of the Dryad onto four RORA members, opening the door for Zaida to jump in and wreak havoc. With the fight completely flipped, Koyl attempted a desperate backdoor split‑push to salvage the match. However, three Phoenix members caught up to him instantly, shutting down the attempt and sealing the victory for TNC.
In the end, the Phoenix walked away with a major win. Outdueling Koyl—who served as his substitute back in Season 15—Zaida earned the final laugh, setting the tone in Game 1 on Paquito with a 6‑1‑5 KDA before anchoring the team in Game 3. Jowm redeemed a tough previous outing against Falcons with a reliable series, while Ryota showed his veteran composure by landing the game‑winning play despite his up‑and‑down performance.
However, the true difference‑maker was Zehn. The newcomer showed up big time, setting the tone in Game 1 with flawless, deathless playmaking on tank duty, then ascended to MVP status in Game 3 by repeatedly making the clutch plays that saved TNC.
