18 Filipinos will see motion when the VALORANT Challengers 2026 Southeast Asia: Break up 1 (VCL) kicks off on March 5, chasing a share of the $50,000 prize pool and the Challenger Factors that include it.
Factors at stake
With a brand new format launched this 12 months, the highest six groups will earn Challenger Factors that rely towards qualification for the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2026 Pacific Stage 2 Final Likelihood Qualifier (LCQ).
With the Break up 2 champion set to earn a direct slot to Pacific Stage 2 Play-Ins later within the 12 months, collected factors throughout each splits stay an alternate pathway for tier-two groups hoping to take a seat among the many Pacific elite.
Oasis Gaming and NAOS Esports enter because the Philippines’ top-seeded representatives, and so they’ll look to go all the best way.
Oasis carries the load of expectation
Oasis Gaming enters as one of the skilled groups within the Philippine scene, carrying the load that comes with prime billing.
For a roster that has spent years grinding via the regional circuit, the VCL is an opportunity to display that extra Filipino expertise belongs in Tier 1.
The six-man lineup for Break up 1 is a mix of seasoned veterans and recent blood that made quick work of the VCL SEA Break up 1 – Philippines Regional, dropping just one collection on their option to the championship.
Probably the most seasoned of the bunch is Mark Anthony “marky” Tuling, who has been with Oasis because the group’s early days in 2021.
The crew’s secondary duelist was a standout performer of their Grand Finals win over NAOS within the Philippines Regional, with 20 kills and seven assists to shut out the deciding Sport 5, capping what he described as essentially the most memorable championship of his profession.
Alongside him is Jon Michael “tesseract” Piga, one of many extra skilled initiator gamers within the Philippines, and Christian “ZYND” Lopez, a flexible veteran who beforehand competed for ZOL Esports earlier than touchdown in Oasis.
Shawn Dale “Slathom” Bolondro rounds out the skilled half of the roster, an initiator participant who had stints with Geek Fam and different Philippine regional groups earlier than becoming a member of Oasis in October of 2024.
The youngest of the group is Jhian “Zeus” Dela Vega, extensively thought to be among the finest duelist gamers within the nation regardless of not but even turning 18. Break up 1 provides him the most important stage of his younger profession to this point to show precisely that.
The most recent face within the lineup is Michael Andre “whitecat” Yuzon, a recent addition introduced on February 23, 2026. The previous Workforce Secret prospect continues to show heads after he first made his mark at VCT Ascension Pacific 2025 whereas on mortgage to BOOM Esports.
Acquainted face leads new NAOS
NAOS Esports enters Break up 1 with unfinished enterprise. They beat Oasis within the higher bracket of the Philippines Regional, solely to fall to them in a five-map Grand Finals that went right down to the wire.
After three consecutive Ascension Pacific appearances with out promotion, the 2026 format opens a brand new path to the Pacific stage they’ve but to face on. Sturdy finishes right here construct Challenger Factors that would preserve that door open later into the 12 months.
The crew’s headliner is Federico “Papi” Evangelista, who returns to the crew that made his identify after a 12 months with International Esports in VCT Pacific. A controller specialist, he helped NAOS attain back-to-back appearances at VCT Ascension Pacific.
Alongside him is Jerome “Mojer” Literal, the longest-serving member of the present core and a key participant of their VCT Ascension Pacific 2023, 2024, and 2025 appearances.
Rounding out the 5 are Yukee “Yukxx” Lampa and Nethaniel “TAPHTAPH” Bundalian, each of whom made the bounce from Kadiliman Esports to NAOS within the January rebuild, alongside Lucas “Secre” Gruenberg — a product of each the Workforce Secret Academy and DLSU Inexperienced Aces system. All three have been a part of the roster overhaul that carried NAOS to the Philippines Regional finals.
Kadiliman Esports qualifies via premier route
One final Filipino crew certified for Break up 1 via a distinct route fully.
Kadiliman Esports (KDM) didn’t play within the Philippines Regional, and as a substitute fought via VALORANT’s Premier circuit — an in-game aggressive circuit that crowns the area’s greatest groups every act, to earn a spot within the VCL SEA 2026 Break up 1 Premier Qualifiers.
There, KDM’s roster completed second behind the Mongolian core of TrinitY to be the primary two groups locked in for Break up 1.
BORKUM leads KDM’s cost from the shadows
The headliner of KDM’s roster is somebody who wants little introduction to the Philippine scene. Jim “BORKUM” Timbreza is without doubt one of the most embellished Filipino gamers within the sport.
A former CS:GO skilled, he rose to prominence with Bren Esports, the primary Filipino crew to compete at VALORANT Champions in 2021.
He spent almost three years with Workforce Secret in VCT Pacific earlier than leaving in Might 2024. He was additionally named the sixteenth greatest Asian participant of 2021 by VALO2ASIA. At 29, he’s by far essentially the most skilled participant in KDM’s lineup, and might be key if they need any probability to win as considered one of this occasion’s darkish horses.
Alongside him is Noel “NDG” De Guia, who joined KDM in January 2025, following stints on Workforce Secret’s academy and major roster.
He’s additionally the youthful brother of VCT Sport Changers participant Kim “PIETY” De Guia, making the De Guia identify one of many extra recognizable within the Philippine VALORANT scene.
Rounding out the 5 are “tomix”, a duelist who additionally performs for DLSU Inexperienced Aces, alongside “eur” on smokes and “Dignified”, who has been dealing with Yoru and Sage duties for the crew.
Filipino duo makes the journey beneath Alter Ego’s banner
Indonesian group Alter Ego enters Break up 1 carrying the core of Vyres Esports, acquired on February 26, 2026. With the signing got here two Filipinos, Alvin “Sovano” Prince and “parscofield”, making them the one non-Philippine crew within the occasion with Pinoy illustration.
Sovano, a duelist who has flown beneath the radar, introduced himself within the Indonesian Regional finals towards BOOM Esports. With 31 kills and a 1.11 score on Bind, he led the crew’s cost on a map they finally misplaced.
parscofield brings a powerful résumé of his personal. A former Workforce Secret Academy participant, he completed because the second-highest rated participant in VCL SEA Break up 3 final 12 months.
He was solely behind Wayne “wayne” Chang, now at Workforce Liquid, and above Xavier “xavi8k” Juan, now at International Esports. Whereas each have since established themselves on the Pacific stage, parscofield might be seeking to shut that hole on this occasion.
A seat on the desk
18 Filipinos throughout 4 rosters.
One desk they’ve been making an attempt to take a seat at for years. The VCL has lengthy been the proving floor for Philippine Valorant, and these 18 are subsequent in line to make their case. Oasis arrives as favorites. NAOS arrives with a degree to show. KDM arrives as one of many occasion’s greatest wildcards. And Alter Ego’s Filipino duo arrives with nothing however upside.
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All of it begins on March 5, 2026, with NAOS Esports opening the occasion towards Rival Esports at 6 p.m.
