THERE HAVE BEEN a lot of criticisms centered on Filipino-centric Dota 2 teams, but UK-based esports org, Team Nemesis, proved the doubters wrong as they secured their slot to the biggest stage in the game's esports scene, The International 2025.
Nemesis consisting of five Filipino players namely Eljohn Canonigo "Akasi" Andales, Mc Nicholson "Mac" Villanueva, Marc Polo Luis "Raven" Fausto, John Rey Yee "Jing" Duyan, and Erice "Erice" Guerra, have booked their tickets to Hamburg, Germany.
Due to their valiant efforts, Nemesis becomes the first all-Filipino squad since TNC back in 2019, to proceed to the main stage of The International.
RECAP: Team Nemesis vs. Talon Esports
But before Nemesis could secure their TI slot, there was one obstacle that they had to overcome, Talon Esports, a team consisting of Southeast Asia's best including a Filipino Dota 2 legend, Carlo "Kuku" Palad. Nemesis was considered to be the underdogs in this matchup.
Team Nemesis took control of Game 1 as they secured key objectives from the beginning all the way to the end. Majority of the teamfights have also been on their favor as Talon couldn't find an opening from the zonal control from Raven's Pangolier, Mac's Death Prophet, and Akashi's Monkey King.
Talon Esports flipped the script in Game 2 as they cruised past the Filipino squad, leading to the final encounter that would decide the fate of these two teams.
The final game proved to be a close encounter between these two TI hopefuls. Team Nemesis entered Game 3 with a lineup centered on shutting down key individual threats courtesy of the Beastmaster, Tiny, and Batrider, and Talon responded with a zonal lineup featuring Naga Siren and Monkey King.
The 40th minute clash saw Nemesis secure a key kill on 23savage which allowed the all-Filipino squad to kill Roshan. Eventually the floodgates have been opened as Team Nemesis kept the pressure on pushing the lanes.
Then came the 46th-47th minute, where Team Nemesis encountered a heavy resistance from Talon on the top lane. Both teams exchanged buybacks, but in the end it was Nemesis who grinded their way to the top.
With Nemesis proceeding to the main stage of The International, the Filipino flag has once again risen, and perhaps another all-Filipino squad could take their talents to Hamburg with Execration hanging on a thread against BOOM Esports.
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