ZETA DIVISION showed everyone in the MSC 2025 Wild Card Stage that Japan still has the fire to compete in MLBB.
For the first time since the M2 World Championship, Japan was back on the global Mobile Legends stage. This time, it was ZETA DIVISION waving the flag in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2025 event at the Esports World Cup (EWC) Wild Card Stage. Despite being their debut international event, the team surprisingly fared well against experienced teams.
One of the team’s standout players was their EXP laner, june1. He is a first-timer not just to the international scene, but to offline tournaments altogether. In an exclusive interview with esports.gg, he shared how happy he is to finally get to experience live competition instead of just watching from the sidelines.
ZETA DIVISION and their breakout run in the MSC 2025 Wild Card Stage
We haven’t seen a Japanese representative in the international MLBB esports scene since 10s Gaming Frost back in M2 World Championship. This is why the hype was real when Japan finally gets a slot in the MSC 2025 Wild Card Stage. A local qualifier was held where ZETA DIVISION earned the privilege of representing the region. As for its EXP Laner, june1, this opportunity means a lot to him.
“It’s a huge honor,” june1 said. “This is also my very first offline tournament, so I’m honestly really nervous.”
Despite the nerves, ZETA DIVISION stunned audiences. Having mostly scrimmed against local Japanese teams, expectations were tempered. But what followed was a breakout run that saw them reach the upper bracket final. The team ultimately got swept by INFLUENCE RAGE. However, their performance exceeded all predictions. The team even reintroduced the UBE strategy that quickly became a go-to tactic among Wild Card contenders.
As the team’s EXP laner, june1 was pivotal in those moments, holding the front line, absorbing pressure, and giving his teammates the space to work. His reliable tank play became the backbone of ZETA’s resilience, especially in their early game setups.
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As the competition gets intense in the MSC 2025 Wild Card, he started noticing some things that most Japanese MLBB teams don’t seem to have. Despite this, he feels the need to continue the legacy that 10s Gaming Frost left and perhaps even try to surpass it.
“In Japan, most teams don’t have coaches or analysts, so I’ve really noticed the difference when it comes to draft and macro,” he admitted. “I used to watch 10s Gaming Frost play at M1 and M2, so now that I’m here, I feel like we can’t fall short of that legacy.”
ZETA DIVISION had a challenging run in the MSC 2025 Wild Card Stage. The team suffered an early loss to INFLUENCE RAGE and sent them to the lower bracket semifinals. However, the team fought their way back and secured a rematch in the lower bracket final. Unfortunately, history repeated itself, as INFLUENCE RAGE once again proved too strong, eliminating ZETA DIVISION and ending their international debut run.
They couldn’t secure a ticket to the Group Stage, but for june1, the journey doesn’t end there. It’s a heavy weight to carry, representing an entire region on the international stage. However, he doesn’t see it as a burden. He sees it as motivation. The player believes that the future of Japanese MLBB depends on the emergence of more competitive teams, and that ZETA DIVISION’s run could very well be the spark that sets that growth in motion.
“To everyone who supported us, thank you so much,” he said. “I want to make the most of this experience and use it to keep moving forward.”
To keep track of the event, check out esports.gg's MSC 2025 at EWC tournament hub, where you can check out the updated scores, match schedule, and livestream links.
