NAVI’s journey to Paris is about more than representing the Philippines—it’s about finishing the story that slipped away twice on the international stage.
After enduring a pair of heartbreaking defeats in 2025, the Filipina squad returns to the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational (MWI) 2026 carrying both unfinished business and the nation’s expectations.
As the Philippines’ lone representative in one of the premier tournaments under the Esports World Cup (EWC), NAVI hopes this year’s campaign ends with another world title instead of another painful “what if.”
The same core experienced two crushing exits last season. Their first setback came at the MWI, where Gaimin Gladiators swept them, 2-0, in the quarterfinals, preventing the squad then competing under the Omega Empress banner from defending the world championship it captured in 2024.
The heartbreak only deepened months later at the Southeast Asian Games. Representing the Philippines, NAVI stood just one point away from securing the gold medal after reaching match point in the grand finals.
Instead, Malaysia mounted a dramatic comeback to steal the series, 4-3, leaving the Filipinas with silver after coming within inches of the championship.
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NAVI PH’s road to MWI 2026 is about more than reclaiming a championship—it’s about proving that the heart of a true champion never fades and that defeat can’t take that away.#MLBBEsports #TwoChampionsOneGame #MobileLegendsBangBang #MWIatEWC26 pic.twitter.com/2pdvILz942
— ALL-STAR (@allstarmag_) July 11, 2026
Now wearing the NAVI banner, the team earned another shot at international glory after dominating the Athena Cup Season 2, the tournament that awarded the country’s lone MWI berth.
The Filipinas will once again rely on the chemistry of jungler Kaye “Keishi” Alpuerto, midlaner Honey “Rainn” Jemlan, EXP laner Gwyneth “Not Ayanami” Diagon, roamer Mery “Meraaay” Vivero, and gold laner Lhoureain “Rianne” Alcaraz as they attempt to reclaim the title they once held.
Unlike last year’s edition, where the Philippines fielded two teams after Team Liquid Aqua also qualified, only one slot was allotted to the country for MWI 2026, placing the entire nation’s hopes squarely on NAVI’s shoulders.
The challenge, however, has become even steeper. MWI 2026 features its biggest field yet with 16 teams from more than 60 qualifying regions, reflecting the continued expansion of women’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports.
The tournament also introduces a revamped format with two double-elimination groups, where only the top four teams from each bracket advance to the knockout stage, making every group-stage series crucial.
NAVI’s path won’t be easy from the opening day. The Filipinas begin their Group B campaign against Cambodia’s Galaxy Phoenix on Tuesday at 9 p.m. (PHT) at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
Group B is widely considered one of the tournament’s toughest brackets, featuring defending champion Team Vitality and several other regional contenders, leaving little room for slow starts as NAVI pursues another deep run on the world stage.
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