Team Secret Fails to Qualify for Champions After ONIC G Loss
Unfortunately for Filipino VALORANT fans, there will be no Filipino teams at the VALORANT Champions 2022.
Team Secret failed to qualify through the VALORANT Champions Tour 2022 Asia-Pacific: Last Chance Qualifier (VCT APAC LCQ) after they narrowly lost 1-2 against ONIC G in the lower bracket.
So close yet so far. Heartbreaking series.
Thank you to all the fans for the support. Sorry we couldn't take you to Champions with us 🖤
FEATURED STORIESSEE YOU SOON 🏴🏳️#SecretValo #ItLiesWithin pic.twitter.com/Ve8OiVgjOV
— Team Secret (@teamsecret) August 6, 2022
Disjunction in Fracture
Team Secret’s demise started in Fracture when they lost the first game 11-13.
Team Secret only snagged four rounds in the first half despite the best efforts of sixth-man hotshot Jeremy “Jremy” Cabrera (11/9/1 KDA) and resident controller Jim “BORKUM” Timbreza (10/9/3 KDA). However, a glimmer of hope flickered during the second half as the Filipino hopefuls, led by Jremy (11/5/1 KDA) and BORKUM (10/9/7 KDA) yet again, managed to close the gap in the scoreline.
Unfortunately, things fell through for Team Secret when ONIC managed to secure a match point after Round 22. Jessie “JessieVash” Cuyco extended their lifeline in Round 23, but it ultimately only delayed the inevitable game loss which came after the next round.
Rising Up in Haven
With the danger of elimination staring right at them, Team Secret rose up to the occasion and closed the second game on Haven 13-11.
Throughout the entire game, both teams kept it close as they reached a tie score in the first half of the game. Team Secret lost multiple rounds in the first half after they were caught off-guard numerous times by ONIC G’s successful lurks, a feat that’s hard to achieve against Team Secret. Meanwhile, the game was also dubbed “The Battle of the Omens” as BORKUM and ONIC’s Michael “severiNe” Winata each made impactful frags for their respective teams.
Team Secret managed to get the upper hand in the second half after a Riley “Witz” Go Sheriff clutch at Round 15. In the end, they were able to decipher ONIC’s movements. The game ended on Round 24 after they closed the C Site with Jayvee “DubsteP” Paguirigan’s Jett Operator, read and caught ONIC’s rotation to B Site, and let the clock expire.
Dreams End in Breeze
The Filipino dream to be part of Champions once more for Team Secret ended in yet another 11-13 loss at Breeze.
If the previous game were about both teams’ Omens then this game was all about the Sovas as Jessievash and ONIC’s Hildegard “Shiro” Arnaldo showcased why the agent was important on this map. Jessievash finished the game as the top fragger for Team Secret with a commendable 16/16/7 KDA and 213 ACS while Shiro wrecked Team Secret with his 19/14/7 KDA and 215 ACS.
The 11-13 conclusion was also reflective of how close the game was and how Team Secret tried to keep up with ONIC. Team Secret only trailed by two rounds during the first half. However, they were unable to overtake ONIC in the second half which ultimately sealed their faith.
With this loss, Team Secret bows out of the VCT APAC LCQ and will be unable to participate in the upcoming VALORANT Champions 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey.
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