Team Secret edges crowd favorite T1 to enter playoffs in VCT Pacific Stage 2

MANILA, Philippines – A new era is dawning for the lone all-Filipino team in the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific as Team Secret secured a playoff spot after surviving South Korea's T1, 2-1, to close out the second week of VCT Pacific Stage 2.

Needing just one more win to be the third team in Pacific to seal their playoff spot, Team Secret started strong in their map pick of Haven with a 4-1 lead. But T1 managed to tie the rounds at the half. Changing sides, both teams traded rounds, but the map eventually went to T1, 10-13.

Things were mostly the same on Split but this time, Team Secret managed to stay ahead of T1, taking a two-point lead by the half, 7-5. The Adobo Gang kept their winning momentum, keeping T1 at bay with a strong defensive display to close out the map at 13-6, forcing a decider in Icebox.

A strong map on the side of Team Secret, they finished the half with a comfortable 8-4 lead. But T1 managed to capitalize on the Filipinos' small mistakes to force overtime. Knowing what was at stake, Team Secret secured two consecutive rounds to finally end the series at 14-12.

With the win, Team Secret is the third team in the league assured of a playoff spot, regardless of the outcome of their last match against Valorant Masters Shanghai champion Gen.G on Sunday, July 7, at 4 p.m. (Manila time).