Team Liquid handles losses the same way it handles wins — with poise

Team Liquid has made winning a habit, piling up title after title both in the local scene and the international stage.

The Filipino team has won back-to-back MPL Philippines titles, and three of the last four, as well as an MLBB Mid-season Cup in 2025.

But what sets the team apart is how it responds when things don’t go its way. Even in the face of heartbreaking defeat, the Cavalry’s players have proven that they can display the same level of poise they show in victory.

Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno, hailed by some as the GOAT of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports, put it best when reflecting on losses: "Tine-take ko siya as motivation. Tinitignan ko kung ano ‘yung mga mali ko kasi before ako manalo nang manalo, puro talo din talaga ako kaya sanay na rin ako sa talo."

(I take it as motivation. I look at what I did wrong because before I became a winner, I really lost a lot so I’m used to the feeling of losing.)

KarlTzy is now seen as one of the faces of Mobile Legends. A two-time M-series World Champion (with Bren and Echo) and five-time MPL PH champion, as well as a Finals MVP on both levels, he has led Team Liquid to plenty of hardware in the last few years. But before reaching the peak of his success, the multi-titled jungler paid his dues on the losing end, too.

KarlTzy recalled that he considers his early exit from MPL Philippines Season 3 as the biggest setback of his career. Still with SGD Omega at the time, the club bowed to No Limit in the lower bracket opener to bow out of contention.

"Siguro ‘yung only time na nasaktan ako at umiyak ako ay nu’ng Season 3 kasi bago pa lang ako sa league no’n. Hindi ko in-expect na ma-first round exit kami," he told GMA News Online.

(I think that’s the only time that it hurt and that I cried was in Season 3 because I was new to the league then. I didn’t expect we would make a first round exit.)

Midlaner Alston "Sanji" Pabico has a similar experience. But in his case, it was a memorable 3-2 play-in loss to Aurora Gaming in Season 14 that serves as motivation for him.

At the time, Team Liquid had struggled throughout the regular season, which put them in a do-or-die situation in the play-in, ultimately leading to their defeat against Aurora. Sanji let himself feel the pain of that loss, but only for a night. By the next day, he was focused on coming back stronger in their following campaigns, where they have been unstoppable, ruling both Season 15 and 16.

"Sa akin, napaiyak talaga ako no’n pero isang gabi ko lang binuhos [‘yung emotions ko] tapos kinabukasan, move on na agad at tuloy na ulit sa karera," Sanji said.

"Ako kasi, hindi ko kayang i-handle ‘yung talo so sa akin talaga, ang ginagawa ko talaga ay sobrang competitive ko talaga kasi ‘yun nga, nasa mindset ko na ayaw kong matalo."

(For me, I really cried back then but I let it all out that one night and the next day, I moved on and was back in the race… I really can’t handle losing, I’m really competitive, so it’s in my mindset that I really don’t want to lose.)

For Sanford "Sanford" Vinuya, meanwhile, his biggest career heartbreak was in Riyadh in 2024.

Fresh off winning MPL Season 13, Team Liquid headed to Mid-Season Cup as the favorite but fell to compatriot Falcons AP.Bren in the semifinals, 3-1, to absorb yet another MSC exit.

"I think biggest loss ko is ‘yung MSC 2024 kasi I do feel like na mas may ibubuga pa kami," Sanford, a highly-regarded exp laner in the world, said.

"Naiyak talaga ako after ng game kasi nakita ko ‘yung mga kakampi ko na na-down."

(I think my biggest loss is MSC 2024 because I do feel like we had more to show… I really had to cry after the game because I saw my teammates looking so down.)

Sanford admitted that It got to the point where he even began questioning his own capabilities, following that MSC upset loss.

"I do feel like na ayon ‘yung biggest loss ko kasi ‘yun din ‘yun point na napatanong ako sa sarili ko, which is never nangyari. Tinanong ko if malakas pa ba ako or enough pa ba ako. Nagka-doubts ako sa sarili ko and never ‘yun nangyari before."

(I do feel like that was my biggest loss because that was the point where I questioned myself, which never happened before. I was asking if I was still a good player or if I was enough. I had doubts about myself and that never happened before.)

But Sanford pointed out that the team came together and rose back up as a unit.

“After no’n, ang magandang nangyari ay sabay-sabay kaming bumangon hanggang sa makamit namin kung ano ‘yung meron kami ngayon,” he said

(After that, what happened is we all stood back up together until we were able to accomplish what we have now.)

Like KarlTzy, Kiel "Oheb" Soriano said the biggest loss of his career was not with Team Liquid.

Oheb shared the toughest moment he had to endure was with his former club Blacklist International. In Season 9, just months after a grueling M3 championship run, the team could muster only three wins and failed to advance to the knockout stage.

That defeat sent Oheb into a slump, bringing him to the brink of losing his passion for MLBB.

"Season 9 nalaglag kami at imbes na magpalakas pa ako, mas naumay pa ako. Halos one month ko pong hindi binuksan ML ko no'n," he revealed. 

"Para sa akin ‘yung biggest loss ko ay nu’ng nasa Blacklist ako, I think Season 9. Parang imbes na ang gawin ko ay mag-grind nang mag-grind para lumakas pa, parang mas nawalan ako ng gana at ng passion."

(Season 9, we were eliminated but instead of working on getting stronger, I was sick of it. It was almost one month that I didn’t open my Mobile Legends game then… That biggest loss was with Blacklist, I think Season 9. Instead of grinding and grinding to get better, I lost my energy and my passion.)

But like his current teammates, Oheb refused to let that loss consume him for good. Soon enough, he learned how to take defeat in stride and worked his way back to the top of the game.

"Bumawi lang ako. Times two ‘yung hard work ko. At may mga kakampi at coaches ako na hindi naman ako napabayaan," he added.

"Natuto na kami kung paano i-handle ‘yung mga losses, kung paano i-set aside emotions agad para makabawi ulit. Kasi kung dadamdamin mo ‘yung talo, mas mahihirapan kang maka-move on at manalo sa next matches."

(I bounced back. I worked twice as hard. And I had teammates and coaches that did right by me… I learned how to handle losses, how to set aside emotions right away so that we can get even. Because if you dwell on the loss, it’ll be harder to move on and win the next matches.)

Team Liquid is all too familiar with the sting of defeat, but they all gained valuable experience from their losses, which turned them into better competitors.

They also know the euphoria of victory, too. And in the M7 World Championship, it’s easy to tell which feeling they’ll be chasing.

"Gigil na gigil pa din naman po. Sanay naman na po akong manalo. Sobrang sarap sa feeling nang manalo and gusto ko siyang ituloy lang,” KarlTzy added.

(I’m still very eager to win. I’m used to winning. Winning feels so good and I want to keep on going.)

—JMB, GMA Integrated News