Team Liquid fends off late TNC backdoor play to break through in MPL PH Season 16

Team Liquid foiled a late backdoor attempt from TNC in Game 2 to complete a 2-0 sweep and secure its breakthrough win in MPL Philippines Season 16 on Sunday at the Green Sun Hotel.

The two squads engaged in a tense lord dance at the 21st minute of Game 2 with TNC’s jungler Justine “Zaida” Palma (Lancelot) outdueling Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno’s Yi Sun-shin to secure the objective.

TNC then tried to turn the momentum into a daring backdoor attempt as midlaner Lance “LanceCy” Cunanan (Luo Yi) pulled off a diversion play that teleported gold laner Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales near Team Liquid’s base.

Bennyqt came close to completing the backdoor, but Alston “Sanji” Pabico quickly came back to base and unleashed a Feathered Air Strike to take him down, even after Bennyqt’s last-minute immortality purchase.

Team Liquid then took down the lord in the middle lane with all TNC players down before marching onto TNC's base and completing the comeback. 

The win allowed the Cavalry to improve to 1-1 after suffering a heartbreaking opener loss to Onic Philippines yesterday.

Former Team Liquid's gold laner Bennyqt’s backdoor attempt was a familiar sight for the Cavalry, as he had pulled off the exact same maneuver during their title run at the M4 World Championship.

"Actually kaming apat po hindi namin nakita, si Sanji po talaga 'yung nakapansin kaya siya rin 'yung nag-call na tumi-tp (teleport) si Benny," exp laner Sanford "Sanford" Vinuya shared.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News