TNC Pro Team continued their Cinderella run in the MPL Philippines Season 16 playoffs after pulling off a dramatic 3-2 victory over reigning M-Series world champions ONIC Philippines in the do-or-die lower bracket semifinals on Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
With the series tied at 1-1, TNC seized control of Game 3 behind the brilliance of Lance “LanceCy” Cunanan’s Zhuxin, who scored a double kill during the 18th-minute Lord dance to give the Phoenix Army a commanding map advantage.
The 25-year-old midlaner capped off his stellar performance with another double kill late in the 19th minute, finishing with a flawless 7-0-5 KDA to put TNC on the brink of victory.
ONIC, however, refused to go down quietly.
The defending world champions bounced back in Game 4 behind Borris “Brusko” Parro’s signature Chou pick, building a 3,000 gold lead as early as the 4th minute.
Brusko anchored ONIC’s dominant 10-minute win with a clean 0-0-6 KDA to force a winner-take-all Game 5.
With everything on the line, TNC came out firing in the deciding match.
Led by Zaida’s two quick kills in the early minutes, the Phoenix Army rode the momentum and never looked back, completing their upset win and punching a ticket to the lower bracket finals.
