According to sources close to Sheep Esports, PCIFIC Esports' Head Coach Kaan "Leader" Taşpınar is stepping away from the project as he'll go back to Turkey. Assistant Coach Manuel "thinkii" Martínez is supposed to fill the vacant position for this VCT EMEA week. He is the most likely candidate to remain in this position for the rest of the split — if PCF are not eliminated in their next match — though the team has yet to decide the identity of its next HC and will explore options.

Currently in the Lower Bracket of the VCT EMEA Kickoff after two encouraging defeats against BBL Esports and GIANTX, PCIFIC must secure a win against ULF this Tuesday evening to avoid exiting this first tournament of 2026 with three losses. The Turkish club will face another Turkish organization, and the comparison does not stop there, as both teams come from EMEA Ascension and have struggled to match Tier 1 level so far.

Having coached several teams in the Spanish league, including Team Queso, UCAM and Ramboot Club, thinkii recently stepped up a level by joining BBL Esports in mid-2025. With the Turkish organization, they reached the Esports World Cup playoffs before falling in the quarterfinals to Team Heretics, the eventual winners of the event. During Stage 2, BBL secured a Top 3 finish, coming close to qualifying for VALORANT Champions Paris 2025, but ultimately falling short.

He will therefore replace Leader, the Turkish coach who returned to EMEA this season with PCFIC Esports and now has to step aside for personal reasons. After starting out on the Turkish scene with Istanbul Wildcats and Digital Athletics, he later became head coach of G2 Gozen in Game Changers, finishing third at the 2024 World Championship. He eventually joined LOUD in mid-2025 for VCT Americas Stage 2, where the team failed to salvage its season, ending in 11th-12th place.