Team Secret sign former Bren Esports VALORANT roster

Premier global esports organisation Team Secret announced on Thursday (9 September) that they had entered the competitive VALORANT scene with their acquisition of the former Bren Esports roster.

Team Secret's new VALORANT team comprise of Filipino players Jessie "JessieVash" Cuyco, Jayvee "DubsteP" Paguirigan, Jim "BORKUM" Timbreza, Kevin "Dispenser" Te, and Riley "witz" Go. The roster parted ways with Bren Esports on Wednesday (8 September).

While under the banner of Bren Esports, JessieVash and company cemented themselves as the strongest VALORANT team in Southeast Asia.

Alongside Paper Rex from Singapore, they became Southeast Asia's representatives in the upcoming 2021 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Stage 3 Masters tournament in Berlin, Germany after they claimed the top two spots in the VCT SEA Stage 3 Challengers Playoffs in August, which ended with Bren Esports sweeping Paper Rex in the grand finals.

However, the team unfortunately had to drop out of VCT Masters Berlin due to visa issues.

Alex Francois, Head of Competitive Operations for VALORANT Esports, said in a statement on Saturday (3 September) that "tightening travel restrictions around the world due to changing COVID-19 developments" meant that the final deadline that would allow for the now-former Bren Esports roster to travel to Germany and compete in VCT Masters Berlin had unfortunately already passed.

Francois explained that VALORANT developer Riot Games "explored multiple avenues" to give Bren Esports a chance to compete in VCT Masters Berlin, including engaging with the Philippine and German governments. Bren Esports also stated that they had "exhausted all possible options" to no avail.

"Given the unfavourable circumstances, tight deadlines, and travel restrictions that are out of our control, our team will be unable to travel to Berlin to compete," said Bren Esports.

Francois added that it was "a tough decision" and that they "share in the disappointment" of Bren Esports' players and fans.

Team Secret's new VALORANT roster have been the undisputed juggernauts of the competitive VALORANT scene in the Philippines since their entry last August, even going on a perfect run to win the country's VALORANT First Strike event in December last year.

They then went on to dominate the VCT's Philippine leg, winning all but one of the five VCT Challengers tournaments held in the country before going on to win the Stage 3 Challengers Playoffs for Southeast Asia and qualifying for VCT Masters Berlin.

"It has truly been a rollercoaster ride for the Bren Esports Valorant Team. From slowly dominating the local competitive scene to breaking barriers as the first PH Branded Esports Team to win a SEA Championship, the Bren Esports VALORANT team will always have a place in the history books," said Bren Esports.

"We are happy to welcome our Secret Agents to our VALORANT division. We hope you support the team with their new journey under the Secret Banner! Their duty is not over!" said Team Secret.

Team Secret continues its expansion in Southeast Asia with its acquisition of a Filipino VALORANT team, which is now its second squad based in the Philippines alongside its League of Legends: Wild Rift roster. The organisation is also operating a PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile team in Malaysia.

Team Secret is known most for its flagship Dota 2 team in Europe, led by founder and Dota 2 living legend Clement "Puppey" Ivanov. The organisation is also operating a Rainbow Six Siege roster in the region.

Team Secret VALORANT roster:

1. Jessie "JessieVash" Cuyco

2. Jayvee "DubsteP" Paguirigan

3. Jim "BORKUM" Timbreza

4. Kevin "Dispenser" Te

5. Riley "witz" Go

For more esports news updates, visit https://yhoo.it/YahooEsportsSEA and check out Yahoo Esports Southeast Asia’s Facebook page and Twitter.