A New Era Dawns: The Story of Flesh and Blood TCG Philippine Nationals 2025

A week has passed since the thrilling conclusion of the Flesh and Blood TCG Philippine Nationals 2025, and the dust has finally settled on what can only be described as a tournament for the ages. New challengers emerged from the shadows, a new champion was crowned, and if there’s one undeniable takeaway from last weekend’s action, it’s that the local community has grown exponentially, both in size and in skill. Today, let’s dive into the Top 8 of the biggest local FaB tournament to date (brought to you by Ludus Distributors) and explore the stories behind each player’s remarkable journey.

The biggest surprise of this year’s competition was the almost entirely fresh Top 8 roster. While last year’s contenders were formidable in their own right, only two familiar faces returned to claim their spots among the elite: defending National Champion Justin Cu and Baguio’s finest, JB Dela Cruz. The remaining six positions belonged to hungry newcomers and veterans alike who had spent the past year grinding, studying, and relentlessly pursuing improvement: Joshua Litam, Carlo Ople, Joniel Ibasco, Edric Ramos, Alex Sy, and Poch Illana.

Joshua Litam – Flesh and Blood TCG Philippine Nationals 2025 Top 4

After being cruelly denied qualification last year, Joshua returned with a vengeance, delivering a breakout performance that nobody saw coming. He dominated the Swiss rounds, finishing tied for first place out of 96 competitors with an impressive 10 wins—a record matched only by defending champion Justin Cu. What made his run even more spectacular was his deck choice for the Classic Constructed rounds: Kano, arguably one of the most audacious picks a player could make in today’s hyper-aggressive meta.

Joshua’s skill with the Draconic Wizard was on full display when he dismantled Poch’s Kayo in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, his championship dreams were dashed in heartbreaking fashion against the eventual winner—a cruel twist of fate saw him suffer an unlucky Kindle-Kindle rip from the top when victory seemed within his grasp. Still, what an incredible Nationals debut!

Carlo Ople – Flesh and Blood TCG Philippine Nationals 2025 Top 4

The owner of Team Unbox had been content with his Top 12 finish last year, which earned him a coveted spot at the 2024 World Championships. This year, however, Carlo approached the tournament with renewed determination. He dedicated countless hours to mastering the High Seas Draft format, hosting regular draft sessions while agonizing over his Classic Constructed deck choice. His final decision was both unexpected and perfectly in character: Oscilio!

With his beloved Aurora rotating out, the Elemental Wizard filled the void perfectly, offering the aggressive gameplay Carlo craved with the potential for devastating combo turns when the stars aligned. And align they did. Carlo’s Swiss rounds became the stuff of legend—opponents found themselves on the receiving end of explosive turns dealing anywhere from 36 to over 70 damage, with some never even reaching their third turn. He showcased this raw power one final time in his Top 8 victory over JB before falling in a closely contested semifinal against Justin.

Edric Ramos – Flesh and Blood TCG Philippine Nationals 2025 Top 8

As part-owner of Kachi Cafe (seriously, their food and coffee are phenomenal), Edric has been steadily improving his game over the past couple of years. His dedication finally paid dividends with a well-deserved Top 8 finish, though his path wasn’t without obstacles. The most heartbreaking moment came in his final Swiss round, where he faced his friend, teammate, and one of the country’s best players, Andre See, who was desperately seeking his own Top 8 breakthrough after finishing 9th last year.

Their Slippy versus Gravy match was a grueling affair, but Edric emerged victorious from this hard-fought battle. His celebration was short-lived, however, as he immediately faced the tournament’s eventual champion in the quarterfinals. Nevertheless, Edric proved he belongs among the country’s elite, and we’re certain to see more of both him and Andre competing at the highest level next year.

Alex Sy – Flesh and Blood TCG Philippine Nationals 2025 Top 8

Alex’s competitive FaB journey began at this year’s biggest Road to Nationals event, where his impressive Cindra performance earned him a Top 8 finish and announced his arrival as a serious contender. For Nationals, he wisely chose to pilot what many considered the format’s best deck: Gravy Bones. Despite suffering an early loss that could have derailed his tournament, Alex displayed remarkable mental fortitude, shaking off his nerves and mounting an impressive comeback to secure the 7th seed after Swiss rounds.

His run concluded in the quarterfinals, where fate dealt him a challenging Gravy mirror match against Justin, widely regarded as the best Gravy pilot in the room that day. While the result wasn’t what he hoped for, Alex’s performance solidified his reputation as one of the rising stars in Philippine FaB.

Poch Illana – Flesh and Blood TCG Philippine Nationals 2025 Top 8

Ever since Kayo burst onto the scene with Heavy Hitters last year, the Nationals Top 8 has consistently featured exactly two Brute representatives. Last year, Jet Malabed held down one half of the Brute contingent. This time, it was Poch’s turn to carry the torch—an impressive feat considering he only started playing a year ago.

Poch’s rapid ascension from newcomer to Kayo specialist at NG Centris is a testament to his dedication and natural talent. Making Top 8 with Kayo this year was arguably more challenging than in previous iterations, as the meta had evolved to present more unfavorable matchups. Yet Poch made it work through sheer skill and an intimate understanding of his chosen hero. While his bloodrush bellowing couldn’t save him from Joshua’s Kano in the quarterfinals, he undoubtedly made the Centris community proud with his stellar performance.

JB Dela Cruz – Flesh and Blood TCG Philippine Nationals 2025 Top 8

In an ever-evolving metagame with an expanding roster of heroes, conventional wisdom suggests that repeating the same strategy two years running would be futile. JB Dela Cruz proved that wisdom wrong. Once again, he brought Kayo to the Classic Constructed portion while excelling in the draft rounds—a carbon copy of his successful 2024 formula.

However, beneath the surface, JB had evolved significantly. His deck list was meticulously updated, his matchup knowledge deeper than ever, and his High Seas Draft skills further refined. Sharing the honor of most National Top 8 appearances with Justin (three each), JB has established himself as one of the country’s most consistent performers. His run met an anticlimactic end when, according to reports, he rolled a devastating 1 on Scabskins before passing the turn to Carlo’s loaded Oscilio. He never saw another turn.

Justin Cu – Flesh and Blood TCG Philippine Nationals 2025 2nd Place

Following a dominant Road to Nationals season, the burning question on everyone’s mind was simple: could anyone stop Justin Cu from making history as the Philippines’ first two-time National Champion? The evidence suggested otherwise. Justin’s analytical approach to the game is unmatched—he studies every interaction, explores every angle, and has been instrumental in Team Unbox’s collective success, particularly in draft formats.

His credentials speak for themselves: during Pro Tour London, he was part of an elite testing team that included some of FaB’s biggest names, including two-time Pro Tour winner Pablo Pintor. The release of Gravy Bones in High Seas seemed tailor-made for his skillset—a powerful but intricate deck that rewards deep understanding and precise play.

At Nationals, the defending champion looked unstoppable. He shared the best Swiss record with Joshua, dismantled Alex in a skill-intensive Gravy mirror match during the Top 8, and remarkably became the only player in the entire tournament to survive Carlo’s explosive Oscilio assault. Yet somehow, someway, his march toward history was halted just one step from glory—by the tournament’s most unlikely hero.

Joniel Ibasco – Flesh and Blood TCG Philippine Nationals 2025 Champion

Picture this moment: Grand Finals, life totals reading 9 to 23 in Gravy’s favor. Anyone with even casual FaB experience knows that climbing back from such a deficit borders on impossible. What followed was nothing short of surreal—Azalea methodically chipping away at the mountain before her. 6 to 15. 6 to 10. 6 to 1. And then, 6 to 0. A new champion was crowned.

Joniel’s Nationals journey reads like a fairy tale—a true rookie who hadn’t even been playing for a full year, quietly slipping into the Top 8 as the ultimate underdog, then systematically dismantling opponent after opponent until only the country’s best player stood between him and immortality. Against all odds, he conquered them all.

What makes his story even more remarkable is its beautiful simplicity, captured in four words: He just showed up.

He attended every armory within reach, never hesitating to ask questions, never fearing failure or mistakes. When Team Unbox held a mock Nationals the week prior, he went 0-9. He absorbed every lesson, learned from every defeat, persevered through every setback, and ultimately emerged victorious. It’s an inspiring testament to the power of consistent improvement—getting a little better each game, each armory, each tournament, until one day you find yourself holding the trophy.

PH FaB is Awesome

And that concludes this year’s championship story! Each passing year brings new excitement, fresh faces, and unforgettable moments. Will we see new challengers rise to prominence? Can former champions reclaim their past glory? Can THREE Kayos make it to Top 8 next year? We’ll discover the answers in 2026.

For now, let’s rally behind our Philippine contingent as they take on the world’s best at Pro Tour Singapore this weekend!