Mark Daniel Demayo

Paper Rex avenges Masters: Santiago beatdown from champs Nongshim RedForce in 2026 VCT Pacific Stage 1 opener

Article (news)

Mark Demayo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775305386260660488066_982365628064943_1718313622373622521_n.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Paper Rex bump fists with Nongshim RedForce after getting their revenge on the VALORANT Masters: Santiago champs in the VCT Pacific: Stage 1 in Seoul, South Korea. VCT Pacific/Handout</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Paper Rex (PRX) overcomes a tough first hurdle in their 2026 VCT Pacific Stage 1 opener by getting revenge on VALORANT Masters: Santiago champs Nongshim RedForce.</p><p>The W Gaming squad previously lost to the trophy-winning Ascension returnees in a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2026/3/16/paper-rex-settles-for-top-2-at-the-cusp-of-valorant-masters-santiago-title-1152">0-3 beatdown in the grand finals</a> of the first international VALORANT Champions Tour event for the year.</p><p>Now they begin their new journey in the regional league with a close 2-1 win to get a head start in qualifying for the upcoming VALORANT Masters: London.</p><p>PRX also breaks the champs&#x27; win streak since October of 2025, where Nongshim bounced back from a loss to perennial Filipino tier 2 contender, NAOS Esports, back in VCT 2025: Pacific Ascension.</p><p>In the returning map Fracture, Nongshim carried over their dominance from Masters: Santiago in the first half by winning the initial rounds and going on a five-round win streak to close at 4-8 at the half.</p><p>As the squad switched sides, the momentum also shifted to PRX&#x27;s favor, overtaking Nongshim in the 19th round and reaching match point first. But the champs forced overtime and won in post-regulation, 13-15.</p><p>In Split, Nongshim drew first blood with the pistol and anti-eco rounds. The two squads then traded three rounds each and then PRX won three more to take the lead, but Nongshim managed to tie the map at the end of the half at 6-6.</p><p>Despite losing the pistol and anti-eco again to Nongshim in the second half, PRX found their rhythm, caught up with the champs, and kept their distance to force the decider at 13-10.</p><p>In the second returning map, Lotus, the two squads were even once again in the first half as they tie up at 6-6 by halftime. But in the second half, PRX took off and left Nongshim in the dust with seven straight rounds to complete their revenge arc at 13-6.</p><p>PRX&#x27;s duelist Wang &quot;Jinggg&quot; Jie topped the board with his signature Raze at 76 kills, 47 deaths, and 17 assists.</p><p>In the post-game press conference, when asked about the recent map and meta changes, PRX&#x27;s assistant coach, Ashton &quot;Wendler&quot; Wendler, said that the maps were a big help for them.</p><p>&quot;Abyss was our perma-ban going into Santiago and all of Kickoff. And Corrode, we did fix going into Santiago, but it was a shaky map for us,&quot; Wendler said. </p><p>&quot;So losing both of those two maps and then gaining Lotus and Fracture, I think it was a big benefit for us for this stage. Historically, Paper Rex has been good on both of those maps.&quot;</p><p>Asked if there was anything specific prepared for Nongshim, Wendler responded that it was not necessary or that there was anything different needed.</p><p>&quot;We overvalued trying to play Abyss in Santiago, which hurt us, and we didn&#x27;t really focus much on Split. So going into this, it was just sort of reevaluating what we need to focus on game plan-wise for the maps that we should be winning on and making sure we executed that game plan.&quot;</p><p>PRX now ties with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2026/4/3/pinoy-fragger-patmen-leads-global-esports-stomp-of-gen-g-in-2026-vct-pacific-stage-1-opener-2007">Global Esports</a> with one win apiece in the Alpha Bracket, dubbed &quot;Group of Death&quot;.</p><p>PRX will next face Gen.G, who recently lost to ex-PRX player Patrick &quot;PatMen&quot; Mendoza and Global Esports in a 2-0 drubbing in Day 1 of the stage, on April 12.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></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/efsjerPwYIg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/echUk8-vYt8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Paper Rex (PRX) overcomes a tough first hurdle in their 2026 VCT Pacific Stage 1 opener by getting revenge on VALORANT Masters: Santiago champs Nongshim RedForce.</p>

Paper Rex (PRX) overcomes a tough first hurdle in their 2026 VCT Pacific Stage 1 opener by getting revenge on VALORANT Masters: Santiago champs Nongshim RedForce.

Paper Rex avenges Masters: Santiago finals loss to Nongshim RedForce in VCT Pacific Stage 1

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Paper Rex avenges Masters: Santiago finals loss to Nongshim RedForce in VCT Pacific Stage 1

Mark Demayo,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 04, 2026 10:16 PM PHT

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Updated April 04, 2026 10:25 PM PHT

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