Mark Daniel Demayo

Paper Rex's PatMen: Basketball player turned first Pinoy VALORANT Champion

Article (news)

Mark Demayo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175766532591354757935651_a8a9e9ead2_k.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Paper Rex&#x27;s Patrick &quot;PatMen&quot; Mendoza walks to the stage during the VCT Pacific Stage 2 Grand Finals in Chiba, Japan on August 31, 2025. <em>VCT Pacific/Handout</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Patrick Mendoza is one of the many Filipinos who one dreamed to play basketball in a high level. </p><p>He has played at a varsity level in elementary, competed in inter-barangay tournaments, and held solo and team accolades while competing in his high school&#x27;s intramural. </p><p>But as the doors to play college ball closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new door led PatMen to eventually lift up a championship in a new arena: the tactical shooter game, VALORANT.</p><p>The 23 year-old from Angat, Bulacan helped VALORANT Champions Tour crowd-favorite Paper Rex regain form and lift their first global trophy during VALORANT Masters: Toronto in June of this year.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/6/23/paper-rex-uncrowned-kings-no-more-after-taking-valorant-masters-toronto-crown-1344" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paper Rex uncrowned kings no more after taking VALORANT Masters Toronto crown</a></div><div><br/></div><p>The W Gaming squad also recently reclaimed the Pacific trophy during the finals weekend of the VCT Pacific 2025 Stage 2 in Chiba, Japan, more than two years since their win in the inaugural year of the Asia division of the VCT.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/9/1/paper-rex-rises-with-vct-pacific-stage-2-title-in-all-sea-finals-in-japan-0204" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paper Rex rises with VCT Pacific Stage 2 title in all-SEA finals in Japan</a></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iXnqpZkQ1i0?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>His journey to VALORANT began after what he described as a heartbreak from basketball which he described as his first love.</p><p>In an interview with ABS-CBN News after the VCT Pacific Stage 2 finals, he narrated his plan to try out for the basketball teams of National University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila through contacts, but everything fell through because of the pandemic.</p><p>While not introduced to PLM&#x27;s basketball team, PatMen&#x27;s elder brother eventually introduced VALORANT to him while they were locked out of the hardcourt. </p><p>&quot;Since naglaro ako ng other MOBA games before like DOTA, ML, so may mga skills siya. Hindi siya tulad ng Counter-Strike na, I mean, may utility rin pero hindi siya yung gano&#x27;ng kagrabing skills. So tinry ko and then nag-enjoy ako. And nung nalaman kong bago yung laro, talagang ginrind ko siya kahit wala akong experience,&quot; PatMen said.</p><p>PatMen has since played in the tier 2 scene of Philippine VALORANT, notably in ZOL Esports in 2024 where they were one series short from qualifying for that year&#x27;s Pacific Ascension tournament, falling before perennial Philippine contender NAOS Esports.</p><p>As PatMen grinded VALORANT, he looked up to the Bren Esports turned Team Secret roster that made history as the first all-Pinoy team that made it to VALORANT Champions in 2021, particularly duelist Jayvee &quot;DubsteP&quot; Paguirigan since PatMen started out as a duelist.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/16/21/valorant-phs-team-secret-qualify-for-valorant-champions" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Valorant: Stars align, as all-Pinoy Team Secret qualify for Valorant Champions in Berlin</a></div><div><br/></div><p>&quot;So motivation ko lang din na sana makalaro ko sila in the future, yun yung ginawa kong inspiration.&quot;</p><p>Amid the grind in the Philippine Challengers circuit, another Southeast Asian powerhouse was already eying him and his progress.</p><p>Paper Rex was taking notice of PatMen and his growth during scrimmages between the squad and ZOL and during his brief time with NAOS. </p><p>In VALO2ASIA&#x27;s YAP2ASIA podcast, PRX coach Alexandre &quot;Alecks&quot; Salle said PatMen was in his radar when he was looking for a dedicated initiator. </p><p>When PRX was at their lowest during the early half of 2025 and needed a lineup change, he discovered that he was lucky to find everything in his criteria in PatMen: a team sports background, leadership qualities, no experience with another FPS game before VALORANT, and high stats for a support player.</p><p>&quot;For some bloody reason, my luck, I get Pat who plays varsity basketball, didn&#x27;t touch any FPS game before. His only game before was DOTA - started playing VALORANT at 19 years old - that was his first game because of COVID. [He] said since I can&#x27;t play basketball, I&#x27;m gonna play VALORANT, and he&#x27;s a support player and has these high stats. This guy just landed in my f****** lap!&quot;</p><p>PatMen and PRX grew together through a tough time at VCT Pacific Stage 1. The Pinoy rookie debut when the squad was at the brink of missing another Masters tournament. </p><p>Despite a 0-3 record that they were in as PatMen stepped on to the stage, PRX went on a miracle winning streak that halted them at top 3, but was still enough to bring them back to the international stage for Masters Toronto.</p><p>Track-by-track, PRX went on a tear through Toronto and finally lifted their first major trophy after two bridesmaid finishes during Masters: Copenhagen in 2022 and Champions: Los Angeles in 2023.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175766735071954607435631_4fef3596da_k.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Paper Rex lift the trophy onstage after winning the championship at VALORANT Masters Toronto Grand Finals on June 22, 2025 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, Canada. <em>Liu YiCun, Riot Games</em></span></span></span></div><p>PatMen credited his experience as a basketball player not just for the individual mentality, but also the importance of being a team player.</p><p>&quot;Siguro, isa sa pinakamalaking bagay is yung vibe ko sa team. Like, dati kasi pag sa sports talagang kailangan mo rin mag-vibe sa teammates mo and kailangan mo rin i-confront sila kung may problem or what.&quot;</p><p>Once he stepped up to the international stage, he looked back to the days where he played in championships in the hardcourt with many eyes around him.</p><p>&quot;Like, may times na kinakabahan ako pero since pag-basketball din may mga crowd, so medyo sanay na ako sa mga ganung bagay. Pero para sa akin, isa sa pinaka-importante talaga is yung kung paano ako makisama sa mga kakampi ko.&quot;</p><p>In spite of sitting among all-stars he once looked up to from a distance, he was reminded by his new teammates that everyone in the team are equal regardless of experience and gave him the motivation to become better for himself and the team.</p><p>&quot;Dahil minsan sa scrims alam nilang may mga idea ko pero nahiya ako na sabihin and dito sa team namin, lagi namin kinokomplement yung isa&#x27;t isa. Kaya hindi talaga mafifeel na mayroong superior or what. Lahat nakikinig sa isa&#x27;t isa. Kahit coach namin si Alecks, lagi siyang nakikinig sa mga ideas namin and sa&#x27;kin.&quot;</p><p>With VALORANT Champions Paris incoming, PatMen welcomed the support he has received from Filipinos and the rest of the VALORANT community.</p><p>&quot;Unang una nafeel ko excited and then natutuwa rin ako dahil maraming Filipino fans na sumusuporta sakin. And sa pagdala ng bandera ng Pilipinas, enjoyin lang din namin kasi yun naman yung dahilan kung bakit nandito kami lahat. Nag-enjoy kami and hopefully manalo ulit.&quot;</p><p>As he marks a milestone for Philippine VALORANT once again for stepping into the Champions stage since Team Secret, PatMen reminds aspiring players to enjoy the game.</p><p>&quot;Sa lahat ng mga gustong pumasok as an esports athlete, unang-unang sabihin ko hindi siya ganun kadali and kailangan nyo ng matibay na mentality and mindset. Lagi nyo lang isipin na i-enjoy nyo lagi yung laro dahil yun yung rason kung bakit kayo naglaro and bakit matatagpuan yung mga future teammates nyo. So kung hindi nyo na-enjoy yung laro, wala nang purpose kung bakit pa laruin yung larong ito.&quot;</p><p>Paper Rex will open VALORANT Champions against Xi Lai Gaming on September 12 at 9pm Manila Time.</p>

<p> Patrick Mendoza is one of the many Filipinos who one dreamed to play basketball in a high level.</p>

Patrick Mendoza is one of the many Filipinos who one dreamed to play basketball in a high level.

Paper Rex's PatMen: From basketball player to first Pinoy VALORANT champion

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Paper Rex's PatMen: From basketball player to first Pinoy VALORANT champion

Mark Demayo,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 12, 2025 05:46 PM PHT

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