Sources - VALORANT: PatMen benched by Paper Rex

According to sources close to Sheep Esports, Paper Rex have decided to bench Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza. The 23-year-old Filipino Controller and Initiator specialist has been competing professionally since 2020 and has already lifted trophies at both the national and international levels. Before joining the Pacific league, he built his career across Sunsparks, Sream Raiders Nacague, Talon Esports, and NAOS Esports, stacking domestic results such as a first place in Challengers League 2024 Philippines Split 1, multiple deep runs in later splits.

Paper Rex signed him from NAOS in early March 2025 as their sixth man, returning to an extended roster model and preparing him to transition into the starting lineup. Once integrated, he became the team’s flex option and immediately contributed to PRX’s most successful season to date: a third-place finish in VCT Pacific Stage 1 to qualify for Masters Toronto and lift the trophy, a top-four placing at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, a first-place finish in VCT Pacific Stage 2, and another top-four finish at VALORANT Champions 2025.

For 2026, Paper Rex keep the same core that carried them through their 2025 resurgence: Khalish "d4v41" Rusyaidee, Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto, Ilia "something" Petrov, and Wang "Jinggg" Jing Jie, coached by Alexandre "alecks" Sallé. The organisation has already extended the contracts of d4v41 and something through 2026, signalling that they intend to retain the same aggressive identity built around their triple-threat core; with PatMen’s departure, Paper Rex now face the task of finding the final piece of the puzzle for their 2026 roster.

As for PatMen, he enters 2026 as the first Filipino player to win an international VALORANT title at this level. He carries both the expectations of a fanbase that followed him from the Philippine circuit and the weight of a résumé that positions him as a key asset for any roster competing in the VCT 2026 Pacific field and aiming to contend for a Champions trophy.

For more roster changes, check out our Transfers Hub and Offseason Live Tracker.