Mark Daniel Demayo

Paper Rex settles for second place at the cusp of VALORANT Masters: Santiago title

Article (news)

Mark Demayo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177361859891655150005634_f63fd2e4b2_k.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Paper Rex takes a bow on stage at VALORANT Masters Santiago Grand Finals held at Espacio Riesco on March 15, 2026 in Santiago, Chile. Colin Young-Wolff, Riot Games</div>The Paper Rex train went on a long journey through VALORANT Masters: Santiago, but will only settle for top 2 again in the grand finals after losing the Pacific derby against Ascension returnees, Nongshim RedForce, at 0-3.The undefeated Korean squad during the tournament made history with their win over W Gaming, becoming the first Ascension team to win a global VCT trophy.  It was also the first time the two Pacific squads faced each other since Nongshim, then carrying the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/9/30/south-korean-team-enters-vct-pacific-as-ph-ascension-drought-continues-1603">Sin Prisa Gaming</a> banner, ascended to the tier 1 scene. In Corrode, PRX built up a good lead over Nongshim in the first half, concluding at 8-4 at halftime. But as the teams switched sides, Nongshim turned the tables on PRX by limiting them to three rounds and overtaking them to take their map pick at 11-13.As the series went to Split and Abyss, it was all downhill for PRX as Nongshim dominated in both maps, limiting the W Gaming squad to only four and three rounds, respectively, and lifting the Masters: Santiago trophy as the first Ascension team to win the title.Khalish &quot;d4v41&quot; Rusyaidee led PRX on the board with 41 kills, 46 deaths, and 9 assists while on Vyse and Viper, despite the losing effort.Nongshim&#x27;s duelist Lee &quot;Dambi&quot; Hyuk-kyu was awarded the tournament MVP for his signature play with the Filipina sprinter Neon.With the loss, PRX settles for their third top 2 finish in the global VCT stage, their first during Masters: Copenhagen in 2022, and the second in Champions: Los Angeles in 2023.Individually, Pinoy fragger Adrian &quot;invy&quot; Reyes concludes his global debut, surpassing the placement of his former squad before he entered the tier 1 scene, the all-Filipino Team Secret, back in <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/09/21/acend-ends-team-secrets-stellar-champions-berlin-run">VALORANT Champions: Berlin</a> in 2021 where they finished 5th-8th.Invy now places behind his predecessor, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/9/12/paper-rex-s-patmen-from-basketball-player-to-first-pinoy-valorant-champion-1746">Patrick &quot;PatMen&quot; Mendoza</a>, who finished with PRX with their first title in Masters: Toronto, in terms of Filipino VALORANT players&#x27; performance on the global stage.PRX will return to action in Stage 1 of the VCT Pacific, which begins on April 3.

The Paper Rex train went on a long journey through VALORANT Masters: Santiago, but will only settle for top 2 again in the grand finals after losing the Pacific derby against Ascension returnees, Nongshim RedForce, at 0-3.

The Paper Rex train went on a long journey through VALORANT Masters: Santiago, but will only settle for top 2 again in the grand finals after losing the Pacific derby against Ascension returnees, Nongshim RedForce, at 0-3.

Paper Rex settles for top 2 at the cusp of VALORANT Masters: Santiago title

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Paper Rex settles for top 2 at the cusp of VALORANT Masters: Santiago title

Mark Demayo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 16, 2026 11:52 AM PHT

Read More:

ABSSport

VALORANT

VALORANT Masters Santiago

Paper Rex

Grand Finals

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