The former BOOM Esports coach enters a new chapter of his career with Team Secret.
PHILIPPINES – Team Secret has officially announced the signing of Ji “meow” Dong-jun as the team’s new coach.
The 35-year-old steps into the role previously held by Tim “dummy” Olson, whose departure after eight months with Team Secret remains unaddressed by the organization and unacknowledged in any official announcement, as he is absent from the updated coaching staff.
meow links up with Team Secret following a successful tenure with BOOM Esports, which began in 2021. During his time with the team, he guided them to numerous Challengers Indonesia titles and secured qualifications for VALORANT Champions Istanbul as well as VCT Ascension Pacific in both 2023 and 2024.
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His most recent achievement was helping BOOM Esports to a near-Cinderella run at VCT Ascension Pacific 2024, where they ultimately finished as runners-up, narrowly losing to the heavily favored Sin Prisa Gaming (now Nongshim RedForce).
However, shortly after the Indonesian team’s promotion to VCT Pacific 2025, replacing the slot previously held by Bleed Esports, meow was unexpectedly removed from his position. Despite this abrupt departure, his appointment to Team Secret means he will be coaching a VCT Pacific team after all, with the possibility of facing his former team in the future–a team whose inner workings he knows intimately.
Team Secret will hope their new leadership can improve the Filipino squad’s performance following two consecutive seasons of mid-table finishes in 5th-6th place. The team describes the hiring of the new Korean coach as “a change in direction,” complemented by the addition of Filipino FPS veteran Jose “Rbtx” Jamir—formerly a coach with RRQ PH and Oasis Gaming—who will assist meow as an analyst.
This season, the stakes are higher for Team Secret as they are no longer the sole flagbearer for the Philippines, with Global Esports adding a trio of rising Filipino stars to their roster.
meow’s first match in his new post will be at the VCT Pacific Kickoff against Global Esports on Sunday, January 19th.
Team Secret’s lineup is now the following:
- 🇵🇭 Jessie “JessieVash” Cuyco
- 🇵🇭 Jeremy “Jremy” Cabrera
- 🇵🇭 Adrian “invy” Reyes
- 🇵🇭 Brheyanne “Wild0reoo” Reyes
- 🇵🇭 James “2GE” Goopio
- 🇰🇷 Ji “meow” Dong-jun (Coach)
- 🇵🇭 Jose “Rbtx” Jamir (Analyst)
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Cover photo courtesy of Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
