FIRST AND EXCLUSIVE: Jiee pulled out of TNCZ4 roster, org to launch its own legal investigation on MDL PH match-fixing scandal

After initially being put on forced rest, MLBB pro player Jhonjie Paul “Jiee” dela Rosa has been officially pulled out of the TNCZ4 MDL Philippines roster.

Z4 Esports co-founder JC “King Cosmos” Garcia confirmed the news first and exclusively to Fragster in an email, saying he has been dropped from the MDL PH team that will be playing in the Season 3 playoffs.

“He is out of the roster,” King Cosmos said in a message, translated from Filipino. “He is out due to the fact that he is banned also in all official sanctioned leagues of MOONTON Games, regardless of whatever tournaments.”

 

Earlier, Jiee has just been banned from all team activities after TNCZ4 officials determined that “certain behaviors” Jiee did were “not aligned with the standards” the organization upholds.

“We believe that this suspension is necessary to uphold the integrity of our organization and the broader gaming community,” Z4 Esports co-founder JC “King Cosmos” Garcia said in a signed statement dated April 25th.

However, this punishment has now been elevated to Jiee being pulled out of the MDL PH roster.

This also comes after the Philippine Esports Organization or PESO banned Jiee and two other players, ex-RSG El Ganador players Raven “Aeris” Arellano and Christian John “Nyija” Calantoc, from participating in all events sanctioned and organized by the country’s national sporting association for esports, including team qualifiers for the Philippine national esports team, SIBOL.

King Cosmos also said that their operations continue despite these developments, with TNCZ4 playing with its remaining players.

“We will retain a 5-man composition for this playoff game,” King Cosmos said. “It is a bit difficult for the team because we will have to do major adjustments, but we hope we can get through.”

 

King Cosmos also said that Z4 Esports and TNC Pro Team, its mother unit in the MPL, are giving full support to each other in finding out the culprits of the match-fixing scandal.

King Cosmos said that while fully cooperating with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang developer MOONTON Games, their organization’s legal team is also preparing their own internal investigation on the match-fixing scandal.

Citing unnamed persons of interest, King Cosmos says they are identifying potential leads that can be linked to the match-fixing fiasco.

“We’re still pursuing our own investigation especially with others, in coordination with our legal team. It’s now ongoing,” Garcia told Fragster.

Despite the recent events, King Cosmos said, he and their organization will still try to help and provide support Jiee while also making him realize the consequences of being involved in such actions.

“He is still our player and we will give him support that he needs. However, he still has to own up to his mistakes,” Garcia told Fragster.

 

TNCZ4 will face off against Blacklist Rough World Era (BLRW) in the opening match of the MDL Philippines Season 3 Playoffs on May 10th.