Mark Daniel Demayo

PatMen and xavi8k reunite in Global Esports while Papi departs; Team Secret's invy joins Paper Rex

Article (news)

Mark Demayo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176586303786020251216 VCT Roster Change.png" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="(L-R) Filipino VALORANT players Patrick &quot;PatMen&quot; Mendoza, Xavier &quot;xavi8k&quot; Juan, Federico &quot;Papi&quot; Evangelista, and Adrian Jiggs &quot;invy&quot; Reyes. Photos: VCT Pacific &amp; Riot Games"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">(L-R) Filipino VALORANT players Patrick &quot;PatMen&quot; Mendoza, Xavier &quot;xavi8k&quot; Juan, Federico &quot;Papi&quot; Evangelista, and Adrian Jiggs &quot;invy&quot; Reyes. Photos: VCT Pacific &amp; Riot Games</span></span></span></div><p>Major moves are happening for Filipino players in the tier 1 VALORANT scene ahead of the 2026 VCT season.</p><p>In a shock to the community, VALORANT Masters Toronto champs Paper Rex let go of Pinoy rookie Patrick &quot;PatMen&quot; Mendoza in favor of Team Secret&#x27;s flex player Adrian Jiggs &quot;invy&quot; Reyes.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/9/12/paper-rex-s-patmen-from-basketball-player-to-first-pinoy-valorant-champion-1746">Paper Rex&#x27;s PatMen: From basketball player to first Pinoy VALORANT champion</a></div><p>PatMen, however, will not be orgless before the 2026 VCT season begins as Indian organization Global Esports availed of his services.</p><p>The VCT Pacific Rookie and Initiator of the Year will be reunited with NAOS Esports teammate and De La Salle University (DLSU) standout Xavi &quot;Xavi8k&quot; Juan, who enters the tier 1 scene for the first time.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/12/8/valorant-prx-patmen-scoops-2-vct-pacific-awards-in-his-rookie-year-1541">PRX PatMen scoops 2 VCT Pacific Awards in his rookie year</a></div><p>Unfortunately, the last member of GE&#x27;s 2025 Pinoy trio, Federico &quot;Papi&quot; Evangelista, has parted ways with the org after playing throughout the 2025 season.</p><p>The involved squads made their announcements through their social media pages a month before the return of the VALORANT Champions Tour season in mid-January 2026. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>GE Rebuild</strong></div><p>PatMen goes to a rebuilding GE who has retained half of the 2025 roster and was once laden with Filipino aimers. GE&#x27;s run throughout the 2025 season was marred by various mid-season roster and coaching changes that landed them back at the bottom of the standings.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/11/2/valorant-global-esports-rebuilds-roster-with-filipino-players-1210">Valorant: Global Esports rebuilds roster with Filipino players</a></div><p>Aside from adding PatMen and xavi8k, GE also rebuilt their coaching staff, led by former Talon Esports head coach Hector &quot;FrosT&quot; Rosario. The org also picked up Australian fragger Kale &quot;Autumn&quot; Dunne, who played two seasons with FunPlus Phoenix in VCT China.</p><p>Upcoming Pinoy rookie xavi8k has played for various tier 2 orgs in the Philippines since 2021. He first joined Bren Esports after the former roster moved to Team Secret and has since played with Oasis Gaming and NAOS Esports up until his signing with GE.</p><p>Along the way, he also won the bronze medal with the Sibol VALORANT squad, composed of teammates from Oasis, during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/10/23/sea-games-valorant-team-cops-2nd-bronze-for-esports">SEA Games 2023: Valorant team cops 2nd bronze for esports</a></div><p>While in college, his squad Viridis Arcus won four straight seasons in the AcadArena Alliance Games. In the UAAP, xavi8k won the VALORANT title with DLSU in back-to-back seasons, first as a head coach and then as a player.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/5/11/uaap-la-salle-claims-back-to-back-uaap-valorant-titles-2345">UAAP: La Salle claims back-to-back UAAP VALORANT titles</a></div><p>xavi8k will reunite with PatMen after the two played together for a short period in NAOS during the VALORANT Challengers League Split 1 before PatMen went on his storied rookie run with Paper Rex. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PRX invy</strong></div><p>The signing of invy marks the second roster change for the W Gaming squad this year, since signing PatMen and replacing Paper Rex mainstay Aaron &quot;mindfreak&quot; Leonhart. He will also be the second Filipino player to join the ranks of the top Southeast Asian VALORANT squad.</p><p>invy was one of the last remaining members of the Team Secret roster when the organization was selected as one of the partnered teams for the VCT in 2022.</p><p>During his time with the Adobo Gang, the Pinoy flex player generally placed in the team&#x27;s top end of the board and even led the team in stats in most matches.</p><p>The squad consistently placed in the middle of the standings during the 2023 and 2024 season, making upset wins against heavily-favored teams, but fell short at the cusp of qualifying for Masters and Champions tournaments.</p><p>But 2025 was Secret&#x27;s lowest performance to date, placing at the bottom of the standings and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/8/12/paper-rex-remains-but-team-secret-and-global-esports-bow-out-of-vct-pacific-stage-2-1649">missing out on playoffs</a> during VCT Pacific Stage 1 and 2.</p><p>Secret is currently rebuilding their roster, with only former GE in-game leader Kelly &quot;KellyS&quot; Sedillo and former T1 player <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/10/29/valorant-team-secret-signs-sylvan-from-masters-bangkok-winning-t1-0957">Ko &quot;Sylvan&quot; Young-sub locked in for 2026</a>, as of writing, after invy&#x27;s departure.</p><p>invy will make his debut with the W Gaming squad in the VALORANT Radiant International Invitational in Fuzhou, China on December 18.</p>

<p> Major moves are happening for Filipino players in the tier 1 VALORANT scene ahead of the 2026 VCT season.</p>

Major moves are happening for Filipino players in the tier 1 VALORANT scene ahead of the 2026 VCT season.

VALORANT: PatMen and xavi8k reunite in Global Esports while Papi departs; Team Secret's invy joins Paper Rex

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VALORANT: PatMen and xavi8k reunite in Global Esports while Papi departs; Team Secret's invy joins Paper Rex

Mark Demayo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 16, 2025 02:04 PM PHT

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