18 Filipinos will see action when the VALORANT Challengers 2026 Southeast Asia: Split 1 (VCL) kicks off on March 5, chasing a share of the $50,000 prize pool and the Challenger Points that come with it.
Points at stake
With a new format introduced this year, the top six teams will earn Challenger Points that count toward qualification for the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2026 Pacific Stage 2 Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).
With the Split 2 champion set to earn a direct slot to Pacific Stage 2 Play-Ins later in the year, accumulated points across both splits remain an alternative pathway for tier-two teams hoping to sit among the Pacific elite.
Oasis Gaming and NAOS Esports enter as the Philippines’ top-seeded representatives, and they’ll look to go all the way.
Oasis carries the weight of expectation
Oasis Gaming enters as one of the most experienced teams in the Philippine scene, carrying the weight that comes with top billing.
For a roster that has spent years grinding through the regional circuit, the VCL is a chance to demonstrate that more Filipino talent belongs in Tier 1.
The six-man lineup for Split 1 is a blend of seasoned veterans and fresh blood that made short work of the VCL SEA Split 1 – Philippines Regional, dropping only one series on their way to the championship.
The most seasoned of the bunch is Mark Anthony “marky” Tuling, who has been with Oasis since the organization’s early days in 2021.
The team’s secondary duelist was a standout performer in their Grand Finals win over NAOS in the Philippines Regional, with 20 kills and 7 assists to close out the deciding Game 5, capping what he described as the most memorable championship of his career.
Alongside him is Jon Michael “tesseract” Piga, one of the more experienced initiator players in the Philippines, and Christian “ZYND” Lopez, a versatile veteran who previously competed for ZOL Esports before landing in Oasis.
Shawn Dale “Slathom” Bolondro rounds out the experienced half of the roster, an initiator player who had stints with Geek Fam and other Philippine regional teams before joining Oasis in October of 2024.
The youngest of the group is Jhian “Zeus” Dela Vega, widely regarded as one of the best duelist players in the country despite not yet even turning 18. Split 1 gives him the biggest stage of his young career so far to prove exactly that.
The newest face in the lineup is Michael Andre “whitecat” Yuzon, a fresh addition announced on February 23, 2026. The former Team Secret prospect continues to turn heads after he first made his mark at VCT Ascension Pacific 2025 while on loan to BOOM Esports.
Familiar face leads new NAOS
NAOS Esports enters Split 1 with unfinished business. They beat Oasis in the upper bracket of the Philippines Regional, only to fall to them in a five-map Grand Finals that went down to the wire.
After three consecutive Ascension Pacific appearances without promotion, the 2026 format opens a new path to the Pacific stage they have yet to stand on. Strong finishes here build Challenger Points that could keep that door open later into the year.
The team’s headliner is Federico “Papi” Evangelista, who returns to the team that made his name after a year with Global Esports in VCT Pacific. A controller specialist, he helped NAOS reach back-to-back appearances at VCT Ascension Pacific.
Alongside him is Jerome “Mojer” Literal, the longest-serving member of the current core and a key player in their VCT Ascension Pacific 2023, 2024, and 2025 appearances.
Rounding out the five are Yukee “Yukxx” Lampa and Nethaniel “TAPHTAPH” Bundalian, both of whom made the jump from Kadiliman Esports to NAOS in the January rebuild, alongside Lucas “Secre” Gruenberg — a product of both the Team Secret Academy and DLSU Green Aces system. All three were part of the roster overhaul that carried NAOS to the Philippines Regional finals.
Kadiliman Esports qualifies through premier route
One last Filipino team qualified for Split 1 through a different route entirely.
Kadiliman Esports (KDM) did not play in the Philippines Regional, and instead fought through VALORANT’s Premier circuit — an in-game competitive circuit that crowns the region’s best teams each act, to earn a spot in the VCL SEA 2026 Split 1 Premier Qualifiers.
There, KDM’s roster finished second behind the Mongolian core of TrinitY to be the first two teams locked in for Split 1.
BORKUM leads KDM’s charge from the shadows
The headliner of KDM’s roster is someone who needs little introduction to the Philippine scene. Jim “BORKUM” Timbreza is one of the most decorated Filipino players in the game.
A former CS:GO professional, he rose to prominence with Bren Esports, the first Filipino team to compete at VALORANT Champions in 2021.
He spent nearly three years with Team Secret in VCT Pacific before leaving in May 2024. He was also named the 16th best Asian player of 2021 by VALO2ASIA. At 29, he is by far the most experienced player in KDM’s lineup, and will be key if they want any chance to win as one of this event’s dark horses.
Alongside him is Noel “NDG” De Guia, who joined KDM in January 2025, following stints on Team Secret’s academy and main roster.
He is also the younger brother of VCT Game Changers player Kim “PIETY” De Guia, making the De Guia name one of the more recognizable in the Philippine VALORANT scene.
Rounding out the five are “tomix”, a duelist who also plays for DLSU Green Aces, alongside “eur” on smokes and “Dignified”, who has been handling Yoru and Sage duties for the team.
Filipino duo makes the trip under Alter Ego’s banner
Indonesian organization Alter Ego enters Split 1 carrying the core of Vyres Esports, acquired on February 26, 2026. With the signing came two Filipinos, Alvin “Sovano” Prince and “parscofield”, making them the only non-Philippine team in the event with Pinoy representation.
Sovano, a duelist who has flown under the radar, announced himself in the Indonesian Regional finals against BOOM Esports. With 31 kills and a 1.11 rating on Bind, he led the team’s charge on a map they ultimately lost.
parscofield brings an impressive résumé of his own. A former Team Secret Academy player, he finished as the second-highest rated player in VCL SEA Split 3 last year.
He was only behind Wayne “wayne” Chang, now at Team Liquid, and above Xavier “xavi8k” Juan, now at Global Esports. While both have since established themselves at the Pacific level, parscofield will be looking to close that gap in this event.
A seat at the table
18 Filipinos across four rosters.
One table they’ve been trying to sit at for years. The VCL has long been the proving ground for Philippine Valorant, and these 18 are next in line to make their case. Oasis arrives as favorites. NAOS arrives with a point to prove. KDM arrives as one of the event’s biggest wildcards. And Alter Ego’s Filipino duo arrives with nothing but upside.
It all begins on March 5, 2026, with NAOS Esports opening the event against Rival Esports at 6 p.m.