Recommended Video
We’re assembling the best of the best for this tournament and the team’s looking pretty stacked.
It looks like the Philippines is all set for MLBB as we now have our star-studded roster ready for the upcoming Esports Nations Cup 2026. The global nation-based esports competition is set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from November 2–29, 2026. Representing the Philippines will be the players from reigning EWC champion Team Liquid Philippines and Team Falcons Philippines.
Per the Esports Nation Cup’s rules, national teams cannot be composed of more than three players from the same team. The strategy moving forward then was rather simple: combine two elite roster cores under a single national banner. Therefore the team representing the Philippines is a combination of the reigning EWC championship-winning Team Liquid core of Roamer Jaypee Dela Cruz, Mid Laner Alston “Sanji” Pabico, and Jungler Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno with the stellar duo of EXP Laner David “Flap” Canon and Gold Laner Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano from Team Falcons.
Not only are these some of the most distinguished and seasoned MLBB pro players in the country, they’re also quite familiar with each other as well. The Team Liquid trio have been playing together since 2023 and have formed a strong bond since then. KarlTzy and Flap also played together on Bren Esports and won the M2 World Championship in 2021. That was the Philippines’ first world championship and kick started our MLBB dominance.
Accompanying them are Grant “Kelra” Pillas and Kairi Rayosdelsol, our two strongest imported players playing for ONIC Indonesia.
The Esports Nations Cup Draws Near
107 rosters representing 107 countries and territories have been officially submitted and confirmed for the MLBB tournament. 32 of those teams will make it to the Esports Nations Cup, with only 16 entering directly via their placement in the national rankings. 14 of the remaining spots will be determined by online regional qualifiers held between August 14-16. The final two teams will be determined through Wildcard slots.
The Philippines is already sitting at the top rankings, but for everyone else it’s a race to acquire more points. That’s why the upcoming MLBB Mid Season Cup at Esports World Cup 2026 is vital for the remaining nations. The performance of their players in one of the biggest international MLBB tournaments of the year will determine if they’ll make the cut for the Esports Nations Cup.
Banner image courtesy of MOONTON Games.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Philippines fields a seven-man squad combining Team Liquid’s Jaypee, Sanji, and KarlTzy with Team Falcons’ Flap and Super Marco, plus ONIC Indonesia imports Kelra and Kairi Rayosdelsol.
The Esports Nations Cup 2026 is a global nation-based esports competition debuting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from November 2–29, 2026, with national teams competing across multiple titles including MLBB.
The two share history as former Bren Esports teammates who won the M2 World Championship in 2021 — the Philippines’ first MLBB world title — making their pairing a natural fit for the national roster.
Of 107 submitted rosters, 32 teams qualify — 16 through national rankings, 14 via online regional qualifiers on August 14–16, and two through Wildcard slots. The Philippines has already secured a top-ranking position.
It is one of the last major events where nations outside the automatic top-16 can earn ranking points, with strong performances potentially securing one of the remaining qualification slots for Riyadh.