A familiar face is back on the Rift, and he’s already making waves. Former League of Legends PC pro Rebengga has traded the sidelines for the jungle, and Elder Dragon is reaping the benefits.

Rebengga, once a standout for Manila Eagles, Team Red, and Hey Gaming, stepped away from competitive play to coach Wild Rift squads Bren Esports and Fennel. Now he’s back in the game himself, suiting up for Elder Dragon in Split 2 of Wild Rounds: Pilipinas Open.

The move has paid off early. Elder Dragon sits at 2-1 in Group A, keeping the squad firmly in playoff contention as the competition builds toward Road to SMASH 2026 in South Korea.

From the Coach’s Chair Back to the Jungle

Rebengga’s return marks one of the biggest storylines of Split 2 so far. He’s swapped his coaching clipboard for a jungler role, joining teammates Faemon, Yamada, Svante Flynt, and HachM.

The comeback follows stints mentoring Bren Esports in 2021 and Fennel in 2023. Both experiences gave him a coach’s-eye view of Wild Rift’s evolving meta before he decided to compete again himself.

That experience appears to be translating directly onto the Rift. Elder Dragon’s 2-1 record puts the squad just one game behind Group A leader Gensokyo, which has stayed unbeaten at 3-0.

The stakes only get higher from here. Group Stage matches resume August 15 and run through the 30th, setting up Qualifying Rounds on September 10-11 ahead of the Playoffs from September 18-20.

Split 2 Raises the Bar Across the Board

Elder Dragon isn’t the only squad making noise this split. IIXWR has been nearly untouchable, riding a flawless 3-0 record in Group B behind standout jungler Karma, who posted a 4.45 KDA during Split 1’s group stage run.

Bonus Round has been just as dominant in Group C, also sitting at 3-0. The squad holds a comfortable lead over UA1 Esports, which trails at 2-1.

Split 2 expanded the field to 36 registered teams, all chasing one of 16 spots in the group stage. Returning contenders like Cubao Korea and Gensokyo, both of which swept their groups in Split 1, are looking to carry that momentum forward.

The competition builds toward more than just bragging rights. Five Filipino creators will represent the Philippines at the SMASH Finals in Korea this November, with the Creator Showmatch on September 20 offering one more spotlight before the Playoffs begin.