TNC Pro Team has made major changes to its MPL-PH Season 12 roster, most notably with the promotion of Robee Bryan Promocille, aka Yasuwo (formerly Ninjakilla) to chief analyst of the team. The team has also anointed Jemson Glean Ignacio, aka Scholar, to head coach. Former team captain Jomearie Santos, aka Escalera, has left the team for ONIC Philippines. Escalera was the inspiration behind TNC Pro Team’s “Biyaheng Tagumpay” anthem in Season 11, owing to Escalera’s history of working as a jeepney driver.
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From jeepney driver to esports player: Escalera's 'Biyaheng Tagumpay'
TNC Pro Team Roster for Season 12
Headlining the Phoenixes for the MPL-PH Season 12 is Ben Maglaque aka Benthings, who takes the role of team captain and starter 1. The rest of the roster are King Cyric Perez aka K1NGKONG, John Vincent Banal aka Innocent, Jetson Glean Ignacio aka Goyo, and “Kaldag King” Kristofer Malcus Calderon aka Hesu.
A new addition to the roster is Mark Laurence Cabigting, aka Bao, who plays substitute for all roles.
Bao, the Multirole rookie named after a coconut shell
During an interview with members of the Moonton and the MPL-PH Press Corps, Bao revealed his role and the inspiration behind his IGN.
Bao, TNC's Multirole Rookie
“As a multirole, I can do everything, just like how I’m multitasking in life—I’m a student and a pro player, and I can support myself [financially] by balancing everything,” said Bao.
He chose the name Bao (pronounced “bah-oh”) because of the shape of his haircut, which looks like a bao, the Filipino word for coconut shell.
TNC’s Awakening: ‘Hindi na kami nagbibiro.’
TNC Pro Team promises a formidable campaign in MPL-PH Season 12. In an exclusive interview with TNC Pro Team’s operations manager Ingrid Ignacio, it was revealed that TNC underwent an awakening after suffering back-to-back bottom finishes in Seasons 10 and 11.
“For the past two seasons, back-to-back top 8 kami, and the pain that we felt during those times led us have significant realizations in life. Yung management, the players, lahat kami, talagang ibang-iba yung energy namin going into Season 12,” said Ingrid.
“Nagkaroon talaga ng inner awakening sa bawat isa kung ano ba talaga yung priorities namin sa buhay, ano ba talaga yung goal namin sa team.”
This “awakening” has even manifested in TNC’s new jersey design, which looks more menacing than last season’s comic-inspired design. It features dark-red flames of a rising phoenix.
“Hindi na kami nagbibiro. We’re rising again, and this time, we’re serious about it,” Ingrid told SPIN.ph.
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