Down 0-2 and looking done, Global Esports flipped a switch and won three straight maps to snatch the VCT Pacific: Stage 2 championship on Sunday in Busan, South Korea. The title is extra sweet for Filipino fans: two of the stars on the winning roster, Xavier “xavi8k” Juan and Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza, are Pinoy VALORANT pros, and their run has punched their ticket to the world stage.
A comeback for the ages against Nongshim RedForce
Global Esports, the Indian organization that fields xavi8k and PatMen, looked headed for a runner-up finish after Nongshim RedForce dominated the first two maps, capped by a 13-2 shellacking on Split. But the 3-2 reverse sweep turned the series on its head with straight wins on Abyss, Lotus, and Haven.
The deciding map scoreline read 13-10, and xavi8k, piloting Sova, closed it out with an 18-kill, 12-assist performance to finish the series with 72 kills and 31 assists. PatMen added a 72-74-29 line across the five maps.
| Map | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset | 11-13 | Nongshim RedForce |
| Split | 2-13 | Nongshim RedForce |
| Abyss | 13-10 | Global Esports |
| Lotus | 13-5 | Global Esports |
| Haven | 13-10 | Global Esports |
Three Pinoys heading to VALORANT Champions 2026
The victory caps a dream week for Philippine VALORANT. With Global Esports qualifying after a T1 win in the lower bracket, the squad joined Paper Rex to send three Filipino players to VALORANT Champions 2026 in Shanghai: xavi8k and PatMen on Global Esports, plus Adrian “invy” Reyes of Paper Rex.
It is the debut Champions appearance for invy and xavi8k, while PatMen is headed to the world championship for a second straight year after representing Paper Rex in 2025. The trio is part of a wave of Pinoy esports talent that has also shown up in MPL Philippines and the global esports circuit this season.
What the win means
For PatMen, it is a second regional title. For xavi8k, it is his first Pacific trophy. South Korean player Go Kyung-won (UdoTan) was named Finals MVP after a 77-81-28 outing, and the title also marked Global Esports’ first Pacific finals appearance before the partnership era winds down.
The Philippine esports scene keeps raising its ceiling, and a deep Champions 2026 run by any of the three Pinoys would be another milestone for local gaming.
