Team Liquid Philippines (TLPH) made history today in the world of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Esports by claiming the Mid Season Cup (MSC) title at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC).
In a dominant display, TLPH defeated the reigning MSC champions, Selangor Red Giants OG Esports (SRG.OG), with a score of 4-1. The championship match took place in front of a capacity crowd at the STC Esports Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With this latest trophy, TLPH has completed the MLBB trophy case, becoming the first-ever team to secure every major championship available in the game. Their victory also earned them a substantial $1,000,000 share of the MSC at EWC 25’s US$3,000,000 prize pool, which stands as one of the largest in MLBB Esports history.
Inside Team Liquid Philippines’ championship run at EWC 2025
The powerhouse TLPH roster includes: Alston “Sanji” Pabico (Mid Laner), Jay Pee “Jaypee” Gonzales Dela Cruz (Roamer), John “Perkziva” Haven Garcia Sumawan (Substitute), Kiel “Oheb” Calvin Que Soriano (Gold Laner), Karl “KarlTzy” Gabriel Dacer Nepomuceno (Jungler), and Sanford “Sanford” Marin Vinuya (EXP Laner).
This star-studded team features several iconic players who have previously lifted world titles and dominated the MLBB Professional League (MPL) Philippines. Their path to the MSC was grueling, starting with a tight 4-3 victory over the world champions, ONIC PH, in the MPL Philippines Season 15 Grand Finals.
Entering the MSC as a top favorite, TLPH maintained an unblemished match record throughout the entire international tournament. With their MLBB division securing top honors, Team Liquid now holds the top spot in the EWC Club Championship Ranking, tallied at 3,200 points as of August 2, 2025.
At the core of TLPH’s success is Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, often considered the face of MLBB Esports. The MSC title had previously eluded him, but today he finally achieved his Career Grand Slam. KarlTzy has now secured both of MLBB’s flagship international titles—the M Series championship and, now, the MSC at EWC 25—alongside his four MPL Philippines titles.
However, it was Sanford “Sanford” Marin Vinuya who delivered a standout performance in the Grand Finals, earning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and an additional US$10,000 bonus. Sanford’s journey was recently documented in Level Up, the Amazon Prime docuseries detailing the struggles and triumphs of esports athletes leading up to EWC 24.
His episode focused on the young prodigy’s challenges as the primary financial provider for his family after his father suffered a stroke last year. Despite facing immense pressure, he rose to the occasion, succeeding on the world’s biggest esports stage.
SRG.OG’s second-place finish also marked a significant achievement, making them the first team to appear in two consecutive MSC Grand Finals, a feat reflecting their dedicated “Pantang Mengalah” (“Never Give Up” in Bahasa Malaysia) attitude. The Malaysian squad earned a US$500,000 prize.
Meanwhile, ONIC PH (ONPH) secured third place and rounded out the podium after a hard-fought 3-2 win against ONIC ID (ONIC) earlier in the day’s third-place decider match.
