In the latest YAP2ASIA Podcast episode, DubsteP revealed that he was dropped from Team Secret through nothing more than a Facebook call.
PHILIPPINES – In the latest episode of the YAP2ASIA podcast, Jayvee “DubsteP” Paguirigan opened up about his unexpected exit from Team Secret in 2023, revealing that he first found out he was being dropped through a Facebook call.
DubsteP joined the YAP2ASIA crew — Nico “BlackenBlue” Gayoso, Clinton “Paperthin” Bader, Andi “Sleepy” Bangsawan, and Kentrell “heyimquack” Kwek — in the podcast’s 10th episode, where they chatted about his decade-long journey in esports, all the way from his early days to the recent VCT Pacific Stage 1, where the former Team Secret duelist has stayed involved through his watch parties.
“I got dropped from a Facebook call,” DubsteP shared, recalling the moment. “As soon as we got home [after the LCQ], two days in the Philippines, I got a call from someone, and they said the team decided that we’re dropping you.”
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At the time, Team Secret had just wrapped up their strongest VCT Pacific run to date, finishing second in the 2023 Last Chance Qualifier. The team came close to qualifying for VALORANT Champions Los Angeles, but ultimately fell 3-1 to ZETA DIVISION in the grand final.
“No [specific] reason. Zero reason,” he added. “Up to this day, I still do not know why I got dropped from the team.”
DubsteP also shared that he reached out to nearly every teammate afterward for clarity. “I messaged every single player except for one, and asked them, ‘Did you really decide [on that?]’ They probably wouldn’t tell me, but I know these guys, these guys are very honest. Invy was like ‘I have no idea’. The way Invy knew was when I posted on Twitter that I was looking for a team [laughs].”
Despite the abrupt exit, DubsteP said that situations like his aren’t uncommon in the esports world. “That’s why I didn’t really speak of this publicly, because I feel like this is esports in general. It happens to a lot of people. I’m just saying it now because I don’t have anything to do with anyone anymore anyway.”
Now retired from competitive play after a decade playing for some of the top teams in Southeast Asia for Counter-Strike and VALORANT, the Filipino veteran still hopes to stay involved in the scene, potentially as part of a coaching staff. He ended the conversation with a lighthearted jab at his former team’s current state, “I mean if they need an assistant coach [laughs].”
YAP2ASIA is a podcast by VALO2ASIA, hosted by four personalities who discuss all things APAC VALORANT — covering everything from the Pacific to the CN regions. In the episode before DubsteP’s appearance, the crew sat down with Gai “Alan” Yandahan for an in-depth conversation about the state of VALORANT in China, including insights straight from the VCT CN Arena in Shanghai.
For more insights on the Asian VALORANT scene and upcoming content like this, be sure to like and follow VALO2ASIA on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
Cover photo courtesy of Lance Skundrich/Riot Games
