Paper Rex reclaims VCT Pacific Title, Pinoy rookie Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza makes history

Paper Rex once again stamped its authority in the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific after dethroning defending champion Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ), 3-1, in the grand finals at LaLa Arena over the weekend.

The reigning Masters Toronto champion entered the title match as the heavy favorite, having cruised through Stage 2 and securing a finals berth straight from the upper bracket. 

RRQ, meanwhile, came in battle-tested after surviving a thrilling 3-2 lower bracket win against Thailand’s Talon just a day before the finals.

Paper Rex immediately imposed its will, taking control of the best-of-five series with back-to-back map wins — 13-8 on Bind and 13-7 on Ascent. RRQ managed to stay alive with a commanding 13-6 victory on Lotus, but the defending champion’s momentum was short-lived.On Haven, Paper Rex showed its composure, jumping out to an 8-5 lead at halftime and then pulling away with three straight rounds on attack. 

Although RRQ attempted to claw back, the early cushion was enough for Paper Rex to seal the championship — their first Pacific crown since Stage 1 in 2024. 

The final blow came fittingly from Filipino rookie Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza, who delivered the decisive shot that clinched the trophy.

They’ve held it before. They lost it.

Now, PAPER REX ARE YOUR 2025 VCT PACIFIC CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/D3V09hma96

— VCT Pacific (@vctpacific) August 31, 2025

“Alam kong nahit ng [ultimate] ni ‘forsaken’ (Jason Susanto) si ‘jemkin’ (Maksim Batorov). Kailangan ko lang talaga is one shot. Nagtiwala ako sa instinct ko and pinush ko na,” Mendoza told Filipino media after the match.

The win was historic for the 20-year-old Mendoza, who became the first Filipino to lift a VCT Pacific trophy since the league adopted its franchise format in 2023.

Despite joining Paper Rex only last March, he already has two major titles under his belt, having also been part of the roster that captured Masters Toronto in June.

With the victory, Paper Rex not only reasserted its dominance in the Pacific region but also secured the top seed heading into the season-ending Valorant Champions in Paris, set to kick off on September 12.

For Mendoza and Paper Rex, the journey continues — but this milestone win has already carved their place in Valorant  Esports history.

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