TNC Pro Team

Origins and Dota 2 Legacy

TNC Pro Team was established in 2013 under the name TNC Gaming. The organization's initial and most famous venture was into Dota 2. Its rise to prominence came in 2016 when the team qualified for The International, the game's premier world championship, as the top team from the Southeast Asia region.

During that tournament, TNC achieved what is considered one of the greatest upsets in esports history. Facing the heavily favored team OG in the lower bracket, TNC won the best-of-three series in a clean 2-0 sweep. This victory, which eliminated OG from the tournament, became widely known as the Miracle of TI6 and confirmed TNC's place in Dota 2 folklore.

Expansion into Mobile Legends

In 2021, TNC formally expanded its competitive reach by entering the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang scene. The organization secured a franchise spot in the Mobile Legends Professional League Philippines (MPL PH) by acquiring the roster of an existing team, Work Auster Force. This move marked a significant shift, with the MLBB division becoming the organization's primary and only currently active competitive team.

The original Work Auster Force squad, despite being composed of rookies, had already made an impression in MPL PH Season 7 by challenging established veteran teams. Players like 3MarTzy, Chuuu, and Kousei were part of that initial core that laid the foundation for TNC's MLBB journey.

Building the MPL Roster

For its official debut in MPL PH Season 8, TNC Pro Team ML built a ten-man roster headlined by six players from the acquired Work Auster Force squad. This core included Frediemar '3MarTzy' Serafico, Daniel 'Chuuu' Chu, and Clarense 'Kousei' Camilo, alongside coach John 'Lift' Ruiz. To bolster the lineup, TNC brought in experienced players from other MPL teams, such as Douglas 'ImbaDeejay' Astibe from Cignal Ultra and Adrian 'Toshi' Bacallo from Smart Omega. The roster was completed with rookies Ben 'Benthings' Maglaque and Lander 'Der' San Gabriel.

After a difficult first season, the team underwent major changes for MPL PH Season 9. A new head coach, Vrendon 'Vrendon' Lin, was appointed. Only two veterans from the previous season remained, Benthings and Shemaiah Daniel 'SDZYZ' Chu. They were joined by a new group of players including Jomarie 'Escalera' Delos Santos and Mark Genzon 'Kramm' Rusiana, who had previously tried to qualify for the MPL through open qualifiers.

Competitive Journey in MPL Philippines

The revamped roster for Season 9 showed immediate improvement. TNC Pro Team finished the regular season as the second seed, a strong performance that carried into the playoffs. They advanced to the upper bracket finals after a 3-1 semifinal victory over Smart Omega Esports Philippines.

However, their run for a grand finals spot was halted by the same Smart Omega team. In the lower bracket finals, TNC was swept 3-0, ending their tournament just one series short of competing for the MPL PH championship. This deep playoff run in Season 9 represented the peak of the team's competitive achievements in the league to date.

Organization Profile and Status

TNC Pro Team is a multi-gaming organization under the banner of TheNet.Com, a franchise of internet cafes in the Philippines. Historically, the organization has participated in over 100 tournaments across various esports titles, including Dota 2 and League of Legends, amassing significant viewership and prize money.

As of recent seasons, the organization's competitive focus rests solely on its Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team. The Dota 2 division, once its flagship, is no longer active. The MLBB team continues to compete in the MPL Philippines, representing the TNC brand for its fanbase, known as the Phoenix Army.