TNC coach bucks pressure in MPL PH Season 14 opening week 

MANILA, Philippines – All eyes have been on TNC Pro Team since it announced its new roster for Season 14 of the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) Philippines as veteran analyst Caisam “Wolf” Nopueto became the team's new head coach.

With experience in shoutcasting in numerous esports titles like Dota2, CS:GO, Valorant and MLBB, it had been a dream come true for Nopueto.

"Pinangarap ko rin maging heach coach for TNC sa ibang game and dito ako napunta, medyo surreal. Masaya and fulfilling yung may nacross ka sa bucket list na sobrang laki and mas driven ka magperform," Nopueto said during the preseason.

With fellow caster Neil “Midnight” De Guzman also swapping his caster hat for a coaching one back in MSC for North American team, Cloud9, Nopueto doesn't see the transition from caster to coach as the natural career progression in esports.

"I wouldn't say na ganun. Hindi siya natural na progression. It's a unique career path," clarified Nopueto.

He adds, "When I entered TNC, yung knowledge ko as a shoutcaster ‘di siya talaga applicable sa coaching. Iba talaga yung lens ng pro players and pro teams. Kahit anu yung vision ko, kung ‘di naman siya executable, it doesn't matter. It took a lot of back and forth. Thankful ako kasi lahat sila game to try, wala kaming nasayang na oras."

But even if Nopueto had just started his coaching stint, many are already asking if he will ever be back as a caster in the future as fans miss his presence on the analyst desk.

"My motto now is I don't want to think about it. Shoutcasting will be forever be part of my life. If binalikan niyo yung casting ko nun sa MSC, nung huling analyst ko, nag keep in character lang ako pero halos maiyak-iyak na ako, nagbreak na yung voice ko. Even yung MPL Philippines playoffs, medyo nalungkot ako kasi ang bilis lang dahil 4-0 siya. Felt really emotional nung time na yun. I will want to go back at the same time I want to cross off all possible achievements I can as a head coach, kung para sa akin siya, itutuloy ko siya. The moment na mafeel kong ‘di siya para sa akin, I will go back. And if I do go back, I think I will be a better caster," said Nopueto.

TNC Pro Team currently sits at the bottom of the rankings with a 0-2 win-loss standing. The squad will open the second week of MPL Philippines Season 14 Regular Season with a match-up against reigning champion Team Liquid Philippines on Friday, August 23, at 5 p.m.