VALORANT: Paper Rex trounces Global Esports for last playoff slot; Team Secret logs first win in 2025

Team Secret's James "2GE" Goopio, Paper Rex's Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza, and Global Esports' Kelly "KellyS" Sedillo during the VCT 2025 Pacific Stage 1. Handout/VCT Pacific 

MANILA -- Paper Rex nabbed a crucial win over Global Esports to get the last playoff slot in Group Alpha during the last week of group stage matches at the VCT 2025 Pacific Stage 1, while All-Filipino squad Team Secret logged their first win in 2025 after defeating their group's top seed Rex Regum Qeon in a non-bearing match.

With the W Gaming squad's win, Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza will be the sole Filipino representative remaining in the playoffs after eliminating fellow Pinoy players Kelly "KellyS" Sedillo, Federico "Papi" Evangelista, and Mark "patrickWHO" Musni in GE.

Team Secret, already out of contention for a playoff slot and is fighting for pride, still managed to steal a victory against Rex Regum Qeon.

--Paper Rex vs Global Esports--

PRX's 2-0 sweeping of GE is the start of the Singapore-based squad's comeback after a rough start during the group stage, only putting their second win on the board after a tough match against DetonatioN FocusMe.

In Split, PRX was in control of the first half, but GE managed to keep the score close to end the half at 7-5.

But the that was the last time GE scored in the map after PRX locked down 6 straight rounds to end the series at 13-5.

GE took the early lead in Lotus but PRX rallied with four straight rounds to take the lead and end the first half again at 7-5.

While GE managed to take the pistol and anti-eco rounds to open the second half, PRX took off again with another four-round streak and closed out the series at 13-9.

As the fourth seed qualifier in the group, PRX will be starting in the lower bracket of the double-elimination playoffs and will have to wait long for their first match in May 3.

--Team Secret vs RRQ--

Despite not qualifying for the playoffs, Team Secret ended its Stage 1 campaign on a high note by completing a reverse sweep against RRQ, 2-1.

The Adobo Gang was off to a rough start in Haven, despite taking the pistol and anti-eco rounds as RRQ retaliated by winning eight straight rounds to end the first half at 3-9.

By the second half, Secret rallied back to overtake RRQ but was stopped at match point to bring the series to overtime. RRQ eventually broke the deadlock by double overtime and concluded at 13-15.

Despite the loss, Secret carried their momentum to Ascent where they dominated the Indonesian squad in the first half at 9-3. RRQ scored two more rounds in the second half but that was all they get as Secret ties the series at 13-5.

Secret further showed their dominance in Lotus after leading the first half at 8-4. RRQ began to come back to tie the series at 9-9 in the second half, but Secret stopped the comeback attempt and ran away with the series at 13-9.

As both GE and Secret miss their chance at VALORANT Masters: Toronto and currently place near the bottom of the VCT Pacific's championship points standings, both teams will need to prepare for Stage 2 in July in order to gain a chance at qualifying for VALORANT Champions: Paris in September.