Despite the change, it’s been more of the same for the Adobo Gang.
Team Secret has just concluded their VCT 2025: Pacific Stage 1 run, and calling it lackluster would be an understatement.
The all-Pinoy squad finished last in their group with only one match win on the last day of the regular season. And that win was against RRQ, who were already sitting pretty at the top of the standings, so it really felt more like a consolation prize.
This is just another entry in the unfortunate trajectory Team Secret has been going through for the past two years. They have not been able to attend an international tournament since VCT 2023: LOCK//IN São Paulo. The last tournament they’ve won was also the APAC Predator League 2024. Everything else has been disappointing, bottom-place finishes.
Since 2023, they’ve replaced Jayvee “DubsteP” Paguirigan and Jim “BORKUM” Timbreza with James “2GE” Goopio and Brheyanne “Wild0reoo” Reyes — two of the oldest members of the team with two young and fresh talents. This leaves Jessie “JessieVash” Cuyco as the oldest and only original member left on the team.
The hope was that JessieVash could use his experience to lead this younger Team Secret to success. However, even after two changes in the head coach position, the team has been unable to stop their declining performance.
The tragic thing with Team Secret is that they have moments where they shine, but they’re their own worst enemy. They tend to get impatient and make overly risky plays, but those can be fixed with training.
What they really seem to lack is the ability to pull through in high-pressure situations — the ‘clutch’ factor. Once the team starts losing momentum, it’s difficult for them to gain it back. That’s a mental barrier that’s hard to overcome, and it’s probably even harder for Team Secret now that they’ve had their worst finish in VCT Pacific to date.
In any case, Team Secret has three months to prepare for VCT 2025: Pacific Stage 2. Hopefully, they can take this time to really solve their problems and turn their season around.
Banner photo from VALORANT Champions Tour Pacific.