Featured Image: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/valorantesports/51719274237/in/album-72157720250881570/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lance Skundrich/Riot Games</a>



SEA VALORANT continued to impress by the end of <a href="https://rib.gg/events/valorant-champions-2021/965?stage=967" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VALORANT Champions</a> as two teams from the region successfully managed to get to the top 8. To that end, we submitted a few questions to one of the players of the teams, <a href="https://rib.gg/players/dubstep/193?section=agents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jayvee &#8220;DubsteP&#8221; Paguirigan </a>of <a href="https://rib.gg/teams/team-secret/4696?section=roster" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Team Secret</a>. 



Team Secret made it to the quarterfinals of Champions after successfully defeating both<a href="https://rib.gg/teams/crazy-raccoon/444?section=roster" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Crazy Raccoon</a> and<a href="https://rib.gg/teams/team-vikings/53" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Team Vikings</a> in the lower bracket before bowing out against the eventual winner of the event, <a href="https://rib.gg/teams/acend/2597" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acend</a>. The questions we asked involved his thoughts on the event itself, Team Secret&#8217;s opponents, and the possible future of South-East Asian teams in VALORANT down the line. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51718791457_15183468b4_k-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14466" width="841" height="561" srcset="https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51718791457_15183468b4_k-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51718791457_15183468b4_k-300x200.jpg 300w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51718791457_15183468b4_k-768x512.jpg 768w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51718791457_15183468b4_k-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51718791457_15183468b4_k-48x32.jpg 48w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51718791457_15183468b4_k.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px" /><figcaption>Team Secret ready for action! Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/valorantesports/51718791457/in/album-72157720250881570/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Riot Games</a></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interview-with-dubstep">Interview with DubsteP</h2>



RIB: What were your preparations going into this event? 



DubsteP: We had normal preparations as usual but we focused on securing our visas more than anything else.&nbsp;



RIB: How did you guys handle the pressure of performing on stage?



DubsteP: There was no pressure after the Gambit game. It was a learning experience throughout the tournament. We eventually learned to adapt.&nbsp;



RIB: Obviously, you guys had support from fans back home. Did you feel any pressure to perform?



DubsteP: As I have said, there was no pressure from anyone because we wanted to play normally and do our best as we always do in big tournaments like VCT.&nbsp;



RIB: What was the experience in Berlin like during COVID? Was there any added stress due to outside factors?



DubsteP: COVID protocols in Berlin were pretty strict as it wasn’t looking good in the country itself. We managed to be able to get a hold of everything, especially the daily PCR tests. Riot was doing a great job on holding the event under these circumstances.&nbsp;



RIB: Any opponents that you were particularly keen on facing? And how did you feel about them once you&#8217;ve played them on stage?



DubsteP: I was looking forward to facing Gambit at the start of the tournament since they were our first match. It was such a great learning experience and I have learned a lot individually from the match. I feel like if I play more games like that, I will learn a lot more.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51724685613_06725691e0_k-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14465" width="815" height="543" srcset="https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51724685613_06725691e0_k-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51724685613_06725691e0_k-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51724685613_06725691e0_k-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51724685613_06725691e0_k-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51724685613_06725691e0_k-1-48x32.jpg 48w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51724685613_06725691e0_k-1.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px" /><figcaption>Gambit Esports. Winners of Masters 3 Berlin and eventual Champions finalists. Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/valorantesports/51724685613/in/album-72157720257723010/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Riot Games</a></figcaption></figure>



RIB: Based on your experience, do you believe that one region is superior over the others? We know that EMEA had a particularly strong showing, but did you get that impression once you guys started practicing against them?



DubsteP: I don’t think any region is superior but it was rather how much pressure the teams felt when they stepped on stage. LAN VALORANT is such a different game compared to online due to how there’s no delay that it changed the gunplay entirely. It’s so great to experience LAN. Because in practice it was technically online so when we meet those teams on LAN it’s entirely different. 



RIB: What differences have you noted in the practice culture of international teams vs the practice culture of SEA teams and do you think the region can improve in that regard?&nbsp;



DubsteP: I think EU practice has the best way of improving on a single map while SEA practice is more focused on the team rather than the map rotations. I believe if we try to replicate EU&#8217;s style of practice in SEA there would be improvements.&nbsp;



RIB: Do you think that SEA regions teams will go further next year? Or do you think that it will still take some time for the region to develop?



DubsteP: I can’t tell as much as nobody can tell 2 SEA teams will be qualifying for the playoffs.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51722320294_2cc8e5cfe0_k-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14470" width="831" height="554" srcset="https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51722320294_2cc8e5cfe0_k-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51722320294_2cc8e5cfe0_k-300x200.jpg 300w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51722320294_2cc8e5cfe0_k-768x512.jpg 768w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51722320294_2cc8e5cfe0_k-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51722320294_2cc8e5cfe0_k-48x32.jpg 48w, https://old.runitback.gg/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/51722320294_2cc8e5cfe0_k.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 831px) 100vw, 831px" /><figcaption>X10 CRIT hailing from Thailand. The other SEA team that successfully made it to the playoffs. Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/valorantesports/51722320294/in/album-72157720211333477/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Riot Games</a></figcaption></figure>



RIB: Tell us your thoughts about the overall outcome of your run. Looking back, what would you improve if given the chance?



DubsteP: I would look back and say we had a great run. I would also look back and tell myself that I could have played better. I could have played more confidently.&nbsp;



RIB: How do you like the plans for the next VCT season? Also, what are your plans for 2022?



DubsteP: If the team still needs me, I would gladly offer my efforts as we climb for a spot for VCT Champions 2022.&nbsp;



*Note: Questions and answers may have been altered for the sake of readability.



<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide"/>



We here at Run It Back would very much like to thank DubsteP for sharing his thoughts on VALORANT Champions as well as Team Secret for giving us the opportunity to speak to him. As always, we will be bringing more post-Champions content your way soon, so make sure you stay tuned and don&#8217;t miss out! 



Tune in to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.runitback.gg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Run It Back</a>&nbsp;and check out all of our latest VCT news, extensive&nbsp;guides, and exclusive&nbsp;interviews&nbsp;in the world of VALORANT. And remember to join our&nbsp;<a href="https://discord.gg/DHvHv2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Discord</a>&nbsp;to enter competitions and win prizes!

Team Secret&#8217;s DubsteP: &#8220;I don&#8217;t think any region is superior but rather how much pressure the teams felt when they stepped on stage.&#8221;

We asked a few questions to Team Secret's DubsteP to get his thoughts on how VALORANT Champions went for both him and his team.

Team Secret's DubsteP: "I don't think any region is superior but rather how much pressure the teams felt when they stepped on stage."

Team Secret's DubsteP: "I don't think any region is superior but rather how much pressure the teams felt when they stepped on stage." - Run It Back - Valorant News

Home

Keeping you up to date with the latest Valorant news.

Run It Back - Valorant News

An avid Esports enthusiast since 2013. I started following the pro-scene of Starcraft 2 before moving on to League of Legends CS:GO, and now Valorant. If I'm not practicing my aim or screwing up my line ups, you can catch me getting hyped as a caster in various amateur tournaments around NA and Europe!

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c987d0be217226c049eb312b93415ab2?s=96&d=mm&r=g

David "Miles David" Josiah

afghanistan

aland islands

albania

algeria

american samoa

andorra

angola

anguilla

antarctica

antigua and barbuda

argentina

armenia

aruba

australia

austria

azerbaijan

bahamas

bahrain

bangladesh

barbados

belarus

belgium

belize

benin

bermuda

bhutan

bolivia

bonaire, sint eustatius and saba

bosnia and herzegovina

botswana

bouvet island

brazil

british indian ocean territory

brunei darussalam

bulgaria

burkina faso

burundi

cambodia

cameroon

canada

cape verde

cayman islands

central african republic

chad

chile

china

christmas island

cocos (keeling) islands

colombia

comoros

congo

congo, the democratic republic of the

cook islands

costa rica

cote d'ivoire

croatia

cuba

curacao

cyprus

czechia

denmark

djibouti

dominica

dominican republic

ecuador

egypt

el salvador

equatorial guinea

eritrea

estonia

ethiopia

europe

falkland islands (malvinas)

faroe islands

fiji

finland

france

french guiana

french polynesia

french southern territories

gabon

gambia

georgia

germany

ghana

gibraltar

greece

greenland

grenada

guadeloupe

guam

guatemala

guernsey

guinea

guinea-bissau

guyana

haiti

heard island and mcdonald islands

holy see (vatican city state)

honduras

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

MENA

Oceana

International

VALORANT introduce new Team Deathmatch map: Drift

Which team take HOLE SHOT? &#8211; Riot games one 2023 pro invitational (japanese)