Sources: Pepiinero set to be benched from ZETA

The return to competition has been anything but smooth. Having come out of retirement a few months ago to join ZETA in the Superliga, Isaac "Pepiinero" Alvarado endured a challenging split in the Spanish league—though this outcome was hardly unexpected. The team had assembled a roster focused more on content creation than on pure competitive performance. As a result, ZETA struggled to keep up in the league, finishing at the bottom of the standings with a dismal record of nine losses and no victories. Following this disappointing run—and a heated exchange with coach Jose "F1RE" Salar on stream—the midlaner has lost his starting spot and will now be relegated to the bench according to Sheep Esports sources.

In fact, the team communicated about the split's poor results at the end of February, warning fans that changes could be on the way: “Over the past months, we have done our best to manage this project while balancing the individuality of each creator with the cohesion of the team,” writes ZETA in a press release. But we recognize that certain situations have gone beyond the limits of what we expect from a professional team like ZETA. Above all, respect among individuals is paramount to us, and we feel that this line has been crossed. In our commitment to transparency and to you, we want to be clear: until the end of Split 1, we will be evaluating everything that has happened within the team and making a decision about the future of this project."

Although his name may not resonate with younger European fans, Pepiinero was a notable figure in the early days of the EU LCS. The midlaner, who began playing League of Legends in Season 1, joined Europe’s elite in 2015 as part of Giants Gaming. While he never came close to winning a title during his three splits in the league, he cemented his legacy in one unforgettable game. Facing Fnatic in Summer 2016, he dealt an astonishing 1551 damage per minute with his Ezreal, accounting for 60.8% of his team’s total damage—a record that still stands in the LEC. Later, in 2017, he captured the Spanish championship in SuperLiga Orange Season 12.

While this last-place finish was far from a shock for ZETA, it further tarnishes an already lackluster track record since the organization’s promotion to Spain’s top division. Even in 2024, results had already been underwhelming. Having played for the first time in the Superliga after two seasons in the LVP 2, the organization also finished last in the Spring Split, then second-to-last in the Summer Split. Their performance in the promotion tournament even cost them their place in the LVP. But with Rebels’ exit, ZETA —which enjoys considerable popularity in Spain— had been granted a second chance to compete at the highest level.