VALORANT: Team Secret knocks off DFM from contention in VCT Pacific Kickoff

The all-Filipino Team Secret VALORANT squad keeps its VCT Pacific Kickoff – and Masters Madrid – hopes alive – but not without a strong fight from a resurgent Japanese-Korean squad from Detonation FocusMe or DFM.

The two squads clashed Monday evening Korea time in a thrilling best-of-3, but the Adobo Gang took home the win in two rounds in Lotus and Breeze.

Map 1 in Lotus saw what appeared to be a redemption arc for Secret rookie Noel “NDG” de Guia, who popped off in the map with a 19/12 K/D ratio. This was a complete 180-degree turn from his performance in the last game versus Talon Esports.

NDG even took to X (f/k/a Twitter) and quipped, “I can shoot now, I guess.”

On the other hand, DFM’s heroes, Ibuki “Meiy” Seki, helped stop TS’s 7-0 run by putting a dent on their scoring with phenomenal kills and clutches. However, the Adobo Gang quickly rebounded and continued on to win the round.

However, in the second map – Breeze, things totally changed drastically as Tomonori “SSeeS” Okimura, Yusuke “neth” Matsuda and An “Medusa” Min-Cheol tried to put the pressure on Team Secret.

However, Team Secret captain Jessie “Jessievash” Cuyco and Map 2 MVP Jeremy “Jremy” Cabrera helped the team regain composure, with Jremy overcoming sniper rifle mishaps with the Outlaw and Operator to take put Secret past cruise control.

With the win, Detonation FocusMe is officially eliminated from VCT Pacific Kickoff contention – the second team to be eliminated from the tourney after yesterday’s elimination of Bleed Esports.

“We gained a lot of experience and will get them back in the league,” DFM posted on its X account.

The winner of the DRX versus Talon Esports match will face Team Secret in the Group B lower bracket finals.

FINAL SCORES: 

Lotus: TS 13 – DFM 7 – MVP: NDG
Breeze: TS 13 – DFM 11 – MVP: Jremy