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    Goodbye Adobo Gang as ZETA spoils Team Secret's VALORANT Champions journey

    No Filipinos will be present in VALORANT Champions 2023
    Jul 23, 2023
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    PHOTO: Team Secret

    TEAM SECRET laid it all on the line for a slot at VALORANT Champions against in-form Japanese squad ZETA Division. After falling to the Lower Bracket against ZETA a few days ago, Team Secret were looking to exact revenge behind Jayvee "DubsteP" Paguirigan and Adrian "Invy" Reyes.

    However their attempts were futile as Team Secret stumbled to ZETA, 3-1 in the grand finals of the Pacific Last Chance Qualifiers. This means that the Japanese squad will secure their tickets to Champions in LA in August, while the SEA-based team's competitive season is over.

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    Early momentum for ZETA

    The first map of the game went to ZETA’s first map pick of Fracture. Koji ‘Laz’ Ushida’s Chamber was again on display but Team Secret managed to take the first Pistol of the Map. But ZETA kept up the pressure with a good Thrifty round behind Yuma ‘Dep’ Hashimoto’s Sheriff.

    ZETA gambled on an early Operator for Laz and it once again worked wonders for them as it led to an early 7-2 lead against the Filipinos on their Defense side despite their Attack-focused Neon composition.

    In order to bounce back, Jeremy ‘Jremy’ Cabrera helped stabilize his team with a Quad Kill with his Raze in Round 10. Team Secret’s early struggles eventually faded as they punched back to end the half 5-7.

    The Pistol of the second half went to ZETA behind two quick kills from Laz’s Headhunter. DubsteP managed to shut down Laz’s early Vandal in an early duel but ZETA still managed to claim the succeeding round.

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    Jessie ‘JessieVash’ Cuyco’s Killjoy kept ZETA’s attacks guessing and Secret managed to read the Japanese squad easier. Team Secret’s young superstar Invy also started heating up as they tied the score at 10-10. The squad exchanged blows as the first Map of the Grand Finals went into Overtime.

    But ZETA just changed the tempo as they got kills fast and early to close the OT with a quick 2-0. ZETA took the lead 1-0 in the Grand FInals

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    Team Secret with the comeback!

    However, Team Secret were all smiles as they were going into Ascent, one of their most dominant maps in competitive play. After a 13-2 Ascent demolition against Korean squad Gen. G, Secret were looking to bring in more of the same against ZETA as they started off on attack.

    With the first Pistol of the map going to the Filipinos, Team Secret was looking to pile on the pressure early on, but ZETA’s adaptive defense with Laz’s Cypher kept Secret off balance and took an early 5-2 lead.

    A strategic timeout helped Secret compose themselves and DubsteP’s heroics helped them take even more rounds away from ZETA. In the end, Secret managed a solid 6-6 half after the slow start.

    Team Secret once again took the Pistol in the 2nd half as they took the lead 7-6. ZETA’s slow offense struggled against Secret especially with DubsteP picking up an early Operator. Team Secret’s suffocating defense and patience against the Japanese helped them tie the series and continue their 100% win rate on Ascent.

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    All hope is gone for Team Secret

    Map 3 went to ZETA’s Split and won their attack Pistol to kick things off. Laz, the Japanese Sniper stole the Rifle round from Secret with an insane Frenzy shot to keep the momentum going in ZETA’s favor.

    With ZETA in fine form in their mid round plays, they dominated early and ballooned to a 6-0 lead. With an Operator in hand for Jremy, Secret finally found their first point after Round 7, but it was all ZETA in the first half with good reads in the smaller Split to secure an insane 10-2 half.

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    With Secret picking up the Reyna on this map, they were hoping for better fortunes on their attacking half. Secret took the all-important Pistol to get some momentum on their side. After a scrappy bonus round, ZETA secured their 11th point but Secret refused to go down without a fight.

    ZETA secured a clean 13-7 victory with Secret’s Reyna left wanting, needing one more match win to finally book their ticket to Los Angeles.

    With their backs against the wall, Secret had to win Lotus to keep their hopes alive. ZETA took control of the Pistol thanks to a secure flank by Laz who was back on his signature Chamber. Laz’s map control and impeccable aim was fully utilized by ZETA as any attempts by Secret to play aggressively were shut down.

    A good hold by Invy and JessieVash helped Secret get some economy back in Round 5 and DubsteP’s Operator was finding heads left and right as Secret slowly but surely found their rhythm.

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    ZETA’s adjustments however to support and protect Laz was something Secret struggled to deal with. Both teams wouldn’t give any ground but it was ZETA whom had a slight 7-5 lead coming into the half.

    In Secret’s switch to the attack, ZETA stole the Pistol. Secret had to come up with something magical, which never materialized as ZETA's Tenta ‘TENNN’ Asai took away Secret’s rifle round.

    With the Japanese Sniper in fine form, ZETA defense was impregnable and Secret struggled to execute properly, leading to the SEA team's demise and exile.

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    PHOTO: Team Secret
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