Filipino player PatMen leads Paper Rex to VALORANT Champions Paris

Paper Rex Express captured the first playoff ticket in the Valorant Champions Paris after toppling VCT Pacific powerhouse GIANTX, 2-1, on Thursday, Sept. 18

Filipino player Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza led the way with important picks in all three maps, while also nabbing the highest headshot percentage on the team.

ROUND WAS ONLY 5 SECS

PRX HAPPENED pic.twitter.com/bPNrgUD4nh

— VALO2ASIA (@VALO2ASIA) September 17, 2025

On Ascent, GIANTX’s map pick, PRX edged out a narrow 7-5 lead by halftime. But after the switch, the EMEA side swung the momentum in their favor, securing the anti-eco, the bonus, and stringing together a four-round streak.

PRX fought to push the map into overtime, but GIANTX held firm and closed it out, 13-11, to claim their pick.

PRX regained control of their own map pick in Lotus, closing the first half with an 8-4 lead. GIANTX fought back after the break, taking the pistol, the anti-eco, and stringing together four straight rounds to narrow the gap. However, PRX answered with a four-round run of their own to seal the map, 13-10.

PRX carried their momentum on Sunset and edged out a 7-5 advantage by halftime. From there, they shut down GIANTX almost completely, allowing just one round in the second half to close out the series in dominant fashion, 13-6.

VCT Pacific Stage 2 MVP Ilya “something” Petrov spearheaded PRX’s charge, putting on a show with Yoru and Sova and finishing the series with an impressive 63/41/18 KDA.

PRX cruised through their bracket unbeaten, following up their opening sweep over XLG with another dominant run.

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