Valorant’s Team Secret Snaps Its Losing Streak, Still No VCT Playoffs
For the first time in nine months, the all-Filipino Valorant squad Team Secret won a series against Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ) during week 5 of the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) 2025: Pacific Stage 1.
This win broke Team Secret’s losing streak after they were taken down by Nongshim Redforce, 0-2 in week 4, booting them out of playoff contention.
With seven consecutive losses, Team Secret also failed to have an international appearance in the upcoming Masters Toronto.
The last time they won a series in VCT was against the Pacific champions of Stage 2 of VCT Pacific 2024 and Masters Shanghai winner Gen.G Esports, which was in July of 2024, or nine months ago.
The former Bren Esports squad had its golden year in Valorant in 2021, when they toppled Paper Rex 3-0 in the grand finals of the Champions Tour SEA Stage 3: Challengers Playoffs.
When they were signed by Team Secret, flashes of greatness were seen as they got a game against Gambit Esports, propelling them to their highest placing yet in the VCT matchup internationally. Defeating Crazy Raccoons and Team Vikings in a 2-0 fashion gave them a chance to go up against Acend.
Despite losing to the eventual champions of 2021, Team Secret was seen not as a dark horse but as a powerhouse in the Pacific region after reaching the quarterfinals of the most anticipated tournament in Valorant that culminated every year.
The “adobo gang” lineup of Jim “Borkum” Timbreza, Jessie “JessieVash” Cuyco, Jayvee “DubsteP” Paguirigan, Kevin “dispenser” Te, and Riley “Witz” Go became the rallying point of the Filipinos to back up.
Year of Almosts
2022 was supposed to be their year. But it started out rough as they started the year with three consecutive series losses in the VCT Philippines Split 1: Challengers, giving fans mixed feelings. Team Secret was losing, but the Philippine esports scene was becoming stronger.
Team Secret bounced back in Stage 2, winning against Oasis Gaming, 3-1, in the grand finals of the VCT Philippines: Challengers. One of the main focal points was the addition of the young Jeremy “Jremy” Cabrera, who brought a sense of youth to the team.
Unfortunately, the efforts were cut short after losing against Xerxia Esports in the lower finals of the VCT Asia-Pacific Stage 2: Challengers Playoffs.
The last chance qualifiers also gave Team Secret the same fate as an almost win against ONIC G of Indonesia. With “dispenser” Te giving the role to Cabrera, Te bid his farewell to the team.
In between the golden year of 2021 and 2022, Team Secret also participated in the gauntlet of the Pacific called Predator Circuit or Predator League PH. They always managed to reach the semi-finals, but lost numerous times against South Built Esports, another Filipino-based team. This marked Go’s last tournament with Team Secret.
Last Chance
Two out of the original Adobo Gang, Team Secret, in the franchise era, managed to shock the world in 2023 when the first-ever VCT LOCK//IN: São Paulo was introduced by Riot. No lower brackets, just a best-of-3.
This also marked the beginning of the era of franchising in Valorant.
They defeated Team Liquid, a team full of experienced Masters winners. This series also introduced the initiator god of the Philippines, Adrian Jiggs “invy” Reyes. 2-0, and once again, the Filipinos rose to the occasion. They reached the quarterfinals of their group against the core group of former Masters winners in Copenhagen 2022. They got swept.
Team Secret changed their roles, with Paguigiran trying out the sentinel and controller roles and Reyes and Cabrera switching roles as well. But it was not enough as they went home with no trophies.
Back in the Pacific, Team Secret was on a redemption arc as they started the tour by defeating Paper Rex and Talon, each with a 2-1.
But after losing in the upper bracket semi-finals against DRX, a Korean-based team, they fell short against Gen.G, giving them a last chance in the qualifiers.
In the qualifiers, the Filipino resilience was showcased when Team Secret crawled their way until the grand finals, pitting themselves against the Japanese squad of Zeta Division. After dropping the first game in overtime, Team Secret got the second map.
However, the last two maps were just not in their favor, as Zeta decisively won the remaining maps, ultimately being the last team to qualify, leaving Team Secret in the dust.
Then, at the start of 2024, the original duelist, Paguirigan, left the team, giving the reins to a new player, Noel “NDG” De Guia, to fill his shoes.
2024
Predator League 2024: APAC started, and the new adobo gang started out hot. They defeated everyone in their path to claim the trophy in January. It was the start of Team Secret’s revival. After three years, Team Secret finally secured an international trophy.
In VCT 2024: Pacific Kickoff, they managed to win some of the play-ins. In stage 1, however, it was the true test for Team Secret to return to its championship form.
After losing two straight series against Rex Regum Qeon and DRX, they went on to decimate Zeta Division, Paper Rex, and Detonation FocusMe, clinching a slot in the playoffs.
In the knockout round against T1, they could not slip to another international appearance after being swept, 0-2.
This again had its consequences, with De Guia leaving Team Secret, they needed to replace quickly in Stage 2. Here came the duo of Brheyanne “Wild0reooo” Christ Reyes and James “2GE” Goopio.
With Timbreza leaving the team, only Cuyco, popularly known as JessieVash, remained from the original squad.
Stage 2 in 2024 saw Team Secret finally become a team to be reckoned with after winning four consecutive matches. The addition of Reyes and Goopio clicked for the fans. Losing former coach Evan “Warbirds” Olzem was not felt by the team at first.
But after losing to Talon in the knockout rounds in a sweep, a complete circle of Team Secret’s starting off strong and ending in almost contention became a pattern.
With its longest losing streak yet, Cucyo, the sole ingredient left from the original recipe of the adobo gang, the future of this team remains to be seen, since it has been two years since its last international appearance outside of the Pacific.
Revitalized
Taking a step back, Cuyco remained in the organization, Goopio said his farewell, but has let the new kids on the block play.
This time, Team Secret veered away from the all-Filipino lineup and chose to add Singaporean Nguyễn “Nizzy” Tấn Thành, Chinese Sha “ZesBeeW” Mohtar, and one more Filipino, Kelly Kent “KellyS” Sedillo.
After VCT Stage 1, Team Secret tried to qualify for the Esports World Cup Pacific X Asian Champions League Qualifier.
The team was revitalized, winning two consecutive matches against Nongshim Redforce and Boom Esports.
While falling short against Paper Rex and DRX, and ultimately the slot for the Pacific, Team Secret’s new roster can be the answer to the curse of not qualifying for international events since 2023.
The only question is when?
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