Saigon Phantom Undefeated at VMC Fall 2026: The Crown Rolls to the Next in Line

On October 10, 2026, at Phu Tho Arena, Saigon Phantom entered their final group stage match of VMC Fall 2026 with the mindset of a team already assured of advancement. Their opponent, a team from the national qualifier, could not create an upset. The score was 2-0, with average game time under 15 minutes. Viewers watching online on VuaBong.vn recorded over 50,000 concurrent views. But the noteworthy point was not the victory. It was how Saigon Phantom finished the group stage with an 8-0 record, without losing a single game. Based on my experience following matches in the LCK and SEA tournaments, I have observed that an undefeated team in the group stage often hides weaknesses that only surface in BO5 or BO7 series. Is this an exception? Let's analyze.

VMC Fall 2026 is an MLBB (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang) tournament sponsored by Visa, gathering the 8 strongest teams in Vietnam. The group stage is a single round-robin, selecting 6 teams for the Playoffs. The champion earns a slot at the MLBB Championship Tour Southeast Asia, moving closer to the M8 World Championship – the 8th world championship of this title. In the context of Southeast Asia witnessing the rise of teams from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, Vietnam's position needs to be asserted. Saigon Phantom, the most successful team in Vietnamese MLBB history, entered the tournament with two new players: Hehehehehehe and HHN. Both came from youth teams but quickly integrated. Meanwhile, ANTGAMER – Spring 2026 runner-up – shocked by fielding an all-female roster and finishing the group stage with a 0-10 record, at the bottom. Noob Team, a team that passed the national qualifier, made the Playoffs for the first time with a 6-4 record. Sweet Revenge, with an almost entirely new roster, finished at 4-6. These developments show a complex picture: while the top remains firm, the rest of the tournament is undergoing strong reshuffling.

Tactical analysis of Saigon Phantom in the group stage shows incredible adaptation. The addition of Hehehehehehe and HHN is not just personnel replacement, but a restructuring of playstyle. Hehehehehehe, with 3 Match MVPs, has shown the ability to control vision and create breakthroughs in the mid lane. In the match against Noob Team, he achieved a KDA of 8/1/5, contributing to the 2-0 victory. HHN, the jungler, had 12 successful ganks throughout the group stage, averaging 1.5 per game. This allows Saigon Phantom to control major objectives like Turtle and Lord with ease. However, an undefeated group stage record can be a double-edged sword. The group stage uses BO3, where mistakes can be corrected in the next game. Playoffs will be BO5, and the final is BO7 – where every weakness is exposed. Based on my experience following matches, undefeated group stage teams often struggle in long series because they have never experienced the pressure of coming from behind. Saigon Phantom has not lost a single game, meaning they have never faced a deficit. Do they have the mettle to overcome adversity? That is the biggest question until October 17.

Another notable highlight is VisethNB, the Laotian player from Tranquillizer, leading the MVP list with 4 votes. This is a signal that the wave of cross-border talent is becoming clearer in Southeast Asian MLBB. VisethNB plays mid lane, with an explosive style and the ability to create breakthroughs in team fights. In the match against Sweet Revenge, he achieved a score of 7/0/9, helping Tranquillizer win 2-1. However, VisethNB's brilliant individual performance raises questions about Tranquillizer's collective strength. If this team does not go deep in the Playoffs, do the MVP votes truly reflect their strength? In MLBB history, there have been many cases of individuals shining but teams not achieving high results. That is a lesson about balance between star and system.

Noob Team, a team from the national qualifier, surprised by earning a Playoffs spot with a 6-4 record. This is the first time a team from the national qualifier has made the Playoffs since VMC expanded the format in 2026. However, caution is needed against over-praising. The 6-4 record largely comes from beating weaker teams like ANTGAMER (0-10) and Sweet Revenge (4-6). Against strong teams like Saigon Phantom, Noob Team lost 0-2 with an average game time of only 12 minutes. Is this a genuine rise or just a group stage phenomenon? The Playoffs will answer when they face top teams in BO5. If Noob Team wins even one series, it will be proof of the development of Vietnam's youth training system. If they fail, they will return to their previous position.

Sweet Revenge, a team that was Spring 2026 runner-up, is going through a rebuild. With an almost entirely new roster, they finished the group stage with a 4-6 record. Personnel instability is the main cause of inconsistent performance. Former pillars like Yukaito, koyun, Island Sweet, Veil, NhatZet have left or no longer maintain peak form. In the match against Saigon Phantom, Sweet Revenge lost 0-2, but in the second game they held on until the 18th minute before collapsing. That is a small ray of light in a difficult season. Can they rebuild to return in Spring 2027? The answer depends on retaining young talents and transfer strategy during the break.

ANTGAMER, Spring 2026 runner-up, caused a shock by fielding an all-female roster and finishing the group stage with a 0-10 record. This is one of the fastest collapses in Vietnamese MLBB history. Last season, they only lost to Saigon Phantom in the final. This season, they could not win a single game. The cause could come from two directions: one, a strategic experiment to promote female participation in esports; two, a financial crisis preventing the team from retaining male players. Based on my experience following matches, such experiments often fail in the short term due to performance pressure. However, in the long term, it could open opportunities for women in a field traditionally dominated by men. Still, a 0-10 record is a stain hard to wash away. Will ANTGAMER continue with this roster in Spring 2027? The answer will reveal whether this was a strategic decision or desperation.

Summarizing the facts, it can be seen that the gap between Saigon Phantom and the rest of the tournament is widening, not narrowing. Last season, ANTGAMER could push Saigon Phantom to game 5 in the final. This season, they lost clean. Noob Team improved but still lost to Saigon Phantom in 12 minutes. Sweet Revenge is struggling to rebuild. Tranquillizer depends on VisethNB. This imbalance raises questions about the tournament's competitiveness. If one team dominates too much, viewers lose excitement. But on the other hand, Saigon Phantom's dominance is also motivation for others to rise. The crown when it falls never breaks, it just rolls toward the next in line. Will the next be Saigon Phantom again, or will a new force emerge?

The counterintuitive point is: Saigon Phantom's undefeated record could be a sign of the tournament's weakness, not their superiority. When other teams decline, a strong team that keeps its roster will easily dominate. This does not mean Saigon Phantom is not good, but it raises doubts about the overall competitive quality. Has Saigon Phantom truly improved compared to last season, or are they standing still while others regress? Looking at the roster, they changed two positions, but the tactical core still relies on the control style of previous seasons. The stage is empty, but I still hear applause from those at home. Perhaps viewers are waiting for a new force, but that force has not yet appeared. The match ended long ago, but the rests still echo after the green.

Playoffs will start on October 10-11, and the final takes place on October 17. Saigon Phantom will have to prove that their undefeated record is not just a product of the group stage format. Noob Team will try to affirm they are not a fleeting phenomenon. ANTGAMER will face an uncertain future. And VisethNB will try to prove that individual talent can overcome collective limits. It turns out every summer has a symphony, only the listeners have changed. Let's see whether this autumn symphony will end on a sharp or flat note.