Beyond VALORANT: Unlocking the Stories Behind Team Secret

Nobody believed Team Secret VALORANT could win, especially with a new roster that took a shot at a world tournament. It has been so long since the team made an appearance at an international tilt. Doubters and bashers took aim at the squad members, telling the older members to retire.

But age did not weigh the “Adobo Gang” down, composed of Jeremy “Jremy” Cabrera (19), Adrian “Invy” Reyes (19), Noel “NDG” De Guia (19), Jim “BORKUM” Timbreza (27), and Jessie “JessieVash” Cuyco (33), as they lifted the Philippines’ first-ever VALORANT trophy during the recently concluded Asia Pacific Predator League on their home turf.

Prior to the Predator League, Team Secret VALORANT placed second during the 2023 VALORANT Champions Tour: Pacific Last Chance Qualifier, and fifth during the 2023 VALORANT Champions Tour: Pacific League—both in Seoul, South Korea.

In 2022, the squad also finished 3rd-4th during the VALORANT India Invitational at the GMR Arena in Hyberabad, after claiming third place at VALORANT Champions Tour 2022: APAC Stage 2 Challengers.

 

Addressing the Age Question

Team Secret’s VALORANT players from the Philippines are aged 19 to 33 years old, something that critics always point out to rattle them, particularly the older players BORKUM and JessieVash.

“I don’t feel like I’m 27 years old,” said BORKUM. "Our vibe as a group is that we’re a team. When we train, we treat each other as equals. We grow together.”

JessieVash, the eldest among the players, is always on the receiving end of ageist criticism.

“I do get comments saying I’m too old and that I should be replaced. That’s common. Maraming tao, lalo na kapag hindi magaling, sa age nakatingin,” said JessieVash. “I was never bothered by my age. What matters is not your age but your rank and performance in games, that’s why I always strive to be included in the leaderboards.”

Considering his age, JessieVash is always conscious of the possibility of being replaced. “That fear of being replaced should always be present so you don’t become complacent. You should always strive to excel. I think that’s more pronounced with me considering I’m the eldest in the team,” says JessieVash, who is turning 34 this year. “That’s the reason why I always give my extra effort for the team.”

 

Hailing from Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, Team Secret’s VALORANT team takes advantage of their diverse backgrounds; defying the odds when it turned out they had the perfect chemistry to win and prove their naysayers wrong.

Team rookie NDG describes the team as “very dynamic yet very calm,” something veteran player JessieVash attests to, as they delivered a clutch performance when they dismantled Japan’s FAV Gaming.

“We’re more composed now. It’s also good that we have younger players in the team who are more driven and passionate. I feel they influenced us to work harder and put in that extra mile when playing the game,” said JessiVash.

Unlike many Philippine esports teams, Team Secret is uncharacteristically more outspoken about one another and does not shy away from pointing out their teammate’s mistakes.

“Our relationship with each other is more open and relaxed. We tease each other, but we remain very professional. We can criticize each other’s play without feeling bad about it or making it personal,” said BORKUM, with the rest of the team nodding in agreement.

JessieVash, who has been around several esports teams in the country, contrasts Team Secret’s dynamics. “Usually, in the Philippines, players become shy or afraid to criticize their teammates. It’s important to be open about these things, especially when you know someone played badly. It’s for the team’s growth. That’s a culture we picked up from esports teams in other countries such as Korea and China; they always discuss issues among team members.”

 

When Team Secret VALORANT alighted from their vehicles in front of the studio in Makati, there was a noticeable air of confidence about them. They had just finished a promotional campaign in a faraway resort in the north days earlier.

“Why couldn’t they just call us ‘SiniGang’?” asked Invy, pondering on how the team got its nickname “Adobo Gang.” Foreign handlers of the team’s social media pages associate the Philippines with adobo, so they thought of calling the Filipino boys Adobo Gang.

JessieVash got out of his car, looking swanky with his designer sneakers and a single piece of accessory: a silver necklace with a crucifix. He has come a long way from his days of guarding computer shops and waiting tables at bars.

“Naging bantay ako noon sa computer shop… Tapos nag-ano rin ako sa isang bar… waiter. Ganoon…” said JessieVash, a bit hesitantly.

At that time in the mid-2000s, waiting tables and watching over computer shops barely made the minimum wage, that's why JessieVash had to grind and juggle two jobs at once. But now, he and the rest of Team Secret VALORANT are earning up to six digits every month.

 

Apart from supporting their families, the Adobo Gang gave the same answer about what they want to do with their money: “Save and invest.”

Under Riot Games, organizations such as Team Secret earn reasonably better compared to other teams in different titles or leagues.

BORKUM reveals how he used to earn P160 a day just to play for an organization.

“When I first came into esports, my salary was just P5,000 a month.” he pauses, as if remembering his days as an amateur esports player. “But I was able to eat three times a day. I was able to save money since we lived in a boot camp and we were fed.”

BORKUM smiles.

 

Using Doubters As Motivation

For many esports teams, bashers cannot be avoided. It’s how you deal with them that matters. BORKUM stayed silent amid the noise, with people calling for his replacement. That is, until they clinched victory at the Asia Pacific Predator League.

“Thank you to everyone who doubted us and pulled us down, and to those who believed in us and supported us. You are the reason we are here,” BORKUM wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after they beat FAV Gaming.

During the sitdown with the team, BORKUM provided context to his post. “Off-season, we had roster changes. The team released our former teammate, DubsteP. People said I should have been removed from the team also. That became my fuel to prove them wrong.”

But more than proving the haters wrong, BORKUM and the rest of Adobo Gang are fueled by their love for their families and their passion for the game.

 

What Champions Dream Of

Back in high school, BORKUM dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player. But as he stepped foot in college, he felt defeated as he realized there were far too many better players with better builds for the sport than him.

“When I got into college, I realized I had no chance because there were a lot of bigger guys who were more athletic. Competition was just too stiff. So I decided to become better in esports,” said BORKUM.

“I am motivated for myself,” added BORKUM. “We did not really come from well-off families, so even if we are already earning, I still want this to continue. I want to win more trophies with my fellow Filipinos. The feeling is ineffable when the world recognizes you as among the best.”

“Apart from my desire to improve myself, I am also doing this for my family, who became my foundation when I pursued esports. They helped me grow as a person,” said NDG, who plans on going back to school if given a chance. But for now, his focus is on continuing his esports career, in which he believes he has more to prove.

For Finals MVP Jremy, who is the youngest in the team and just turned 19, his love for the game is what truly motivates him. He was awarded the $10,000 prize money for his outstanding play in the Predator League but he decided to share the money equally with his teammates.

“We talked about it. We decided that whoever wins the MVP award, we would share the pot with everyone equally. That $10,000 is too big to go to any of us individually, so we wanted to split it,” said Jremy.

Jremy, who hails from Bukidnon, dreams of building a house in Luzon. “It is my dream to have a house in Luzon so that there will be a Cabrera in Luzon,” he said. The clutch player helped his parents migrate from Mindanao to New Zealand, where they are now living with his aunt.

According to the 19-year-old, he used to send money to his parents in Bukidnon until he was able to help them move to New Zealand. “I’m independent now, so I want to build a house of my own,” added Jremy.

For JessieVash, who dreams of glory for the Philippines in PC-based esports world championships, Manny Pacquiao remains an indelible image of Filipino pride.

“Ever since I was young, I was dazzled by how Manny Pacquiao brought pride to the Philippines. I also want something like that—to be able to carry the honor of the country. Even if we are a poor country, we can walk among wealthier ones and prove we are great. Pacquiao started out with little to no support, but he eventually became one of the world’s greatest. That’s what I want for Team Secret.”

Despite the odds stacked against them, Team Secret won the championship and took home the lion’s share of $65,000 at the Asia Pacific Predator League, which concluded on January 14, 2024, in Manila, Philippines.

Their next challenge? Jremy, Invy, NDG, BORKUM, and JessieVash are flying back to South Korea for the VALORANT Champions Tour 2024: Pacific Kickoff. Team Secret is part of Group B, along with their first opponent, Talon Esports, DetonatioN FocusMe, and DRX. The top two teams will qualify for Masters Madrid.

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VALORANT is a 5v5 character-based competitive shooter from Riot Games. It is among the most popular first-person shooter games in the world. Follow VALORANT Esports Philippines on Facebook and check out their website.