Vietnam's Team Secret Wales (TSW) was eliminated from the 2026 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) after falling to Lion in the second round of the bracket stage lower bracket at the Daejeon Convention Center in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, on the 8th. Although they captured the world's attention by pulling off a stunning 3-1 upset against LPL's second seed, TES, they were unable to repeat the miracle for a second consecutive series.

In an interview with INVEN after the match, TSW top laner 'Pun' Nguyen Dang Khoa still seemed to be processing the loss and elimination. Reflecting on the match, he said, "I think our opponents (Lion) analyzed us well and prepared a strong pick-ban strategy. We tried our best in-game, but losing the first set really took a toll on our morale."

Although their MSI journey ends here, TSW created a moment that will go down in MSI history by eliminating TES. Regarding this, 'Pun' expressed mixed feelings: "Our goal was to secure at least one win. I'm happy we achieved that by beating TES, but I'm not fully satisfied because I really wanted to make it to the top four."

Known as a Volibear specialist, 'Pun' showcased strong performances on the champion during the previous First Stand and this MSI. He displayed a specialist's confidence, noting, "It's still a viable champion in certain situations, but it's very situational. For me, I can pick it boldly because I'm that confident in it."

When asked for tips for other Volibear players, 'Pun' replied, "Volibear starts to get strong after level 6, specifically in the level 7-8 range. Before that, you need to focus on farming and ganking. I often use a 'proxy' strategy, hiding between the opponent's first and second towers to farm and create opportunities."

'Pun', who identified the match against TES as his most memorable moment of the tournament, concluded the interview by sharing his resolve for the remainder of the season. "The match against TES stands out the most. The crowd's support was incredibly passionate, and it really helped us perform well," he said. "We will do our best to address the mistakes we made during this MSI. We've learned a lot, and I promise to show a more improved version of myself in the upcoming Summer Season."