SEN JonahP: "We tried our best and it just wasn't enough"

Sentinels’ VCT Americas Stage 2 campaign came to an end on Saturday, August 22th, with a loss to KRÜ, closing a season marked by difficult stretches for the North American roster. Despite showing the ability to compete with the region’s top teams, Sentinels struggled to maintain that level throughout the year and ultimately fell short of the expectations they had set for themselves.

In an exclusive interview with Sheep Esports, Jonah "JonahP" Pulice reflected on the loss to KRÜ, the team’s four-game losing streak and how the roster managed to maintain its morale during difficult periods. The Canadian also discussed the postponement of the ENC, evaluated his own 2026 season and admitted he was disappointed with how the Sentinels project came to an end this year.

Jonah "JonahP" Pulice: “I’m not really sure if there’s a specific moment, but I think KRÜ just had a really good game plan for us. We kind of struggled on our attack sides on both maps, and they just fought really well together as a pack, early round or in the mid round, and we just didn’t handle it very well. So, it was hard.

JonahP: I think our attention was pretty high after the ENVY game, but we went into practice the next day and just VOD reviewed it with our voice comms and stuff. Basically, we talked about every single issue that happened, and after that, it was fine. We did lose four games in a row, but our spirits and morale were still high. We were still showing up to practice with a smile and always giving it our all. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out in your favor.

JonahP: Through Stage 2, a lot of our losses were super close and against all the best teams in North America. Obviously, against ENVY game was not that close, but our mentality was really good. We knew that we just needed that extra 5% from everybody to be able to close out games, because a lot of our losses we ended up winning the first map and losing the next two. So, we tried to focus really hard on fixing that issue and trying to get more energy and just more out of us. Overall, it was kind of like a roller coaster of everything - emotions, matches, mental. We had really good moments and really low moments, but we tried our best and it just wasn’t enough.

JonahP: I was definitely a little sad because any opportunity I have to play VALORANT at a high level, I’m always excited. But I wasn’t really too focused on it because it was still a ways away, even if it didn’t get canceled. I was just focused on my team and whatever happened at the end of Stage 2. Then I could figure out how to get ready for ENC. It’s kind of whatever for me. I’m a little sad, but at the same time, I wasn’t waiting for it to happen, if that makes sense.

JonahP: I’m not too sure, to be honest, right now. I can say a lot of things, but at the same time, I don’t really know. Like I said before, it’s kind of just like a roller coaster. Sometimes we looked like a top-level North American team that can compete against anybody, and other times that kind of just went away. So, it’s kind of difficult right now to pinpoint. But this team was such a pleasure to play with, and I’m really bummed that it had to end this way. Everyone just works so hard on this roster and it just didn’t work out. I feel bad for all my teammates. I really wanted to get at least some more wins under our belt for them.

JonahP: The start of the year was hard for me. I definitely didn’t live up to my own expectations, and I don’t have any regrets or anything, but I’m just pretty disappointed. I felt I had so much more to give and so much more to show. I definitely didn’t play up to expectations for myself and for my teammates.

JonahP: That’s a good question. I’m sure there is, but right now I haven’t had much time to reflect for myself personally or reflect on the year with the team and stuff like that. I know once I have time to get my emotions together, I’ll have a solid answer, but at the moment I don’t really have one right now.”