With Mojer’s return and the signing of in-game leader Emman, NAOS Esports aim to maintain their status as last year’s leading Filipino team.
PHILIPPINES – In an unexpected last-minute twist, NAOS Esports have announced the benching of in-game leader Riley “witz” Go and most recent addition Jon Michael “Tesseract” Piga. The duo’s departure from the active roster was announced less than a week before the beginning of VALORANT Challengers Philippines Split 1, where they had earned a direct invite as the top side from last season.
“For the upcoming 2024 VALORANT Challengers League – Philippines Split 1, Witz and Tesseract will be moved to inactive status. This is a tough decision by the management with consideration for the future of NAOS Esports,” the announcement reads, although the specific reasons for the decision were not disclosed.
The changes come as NAOS Esports look to get back on track following a series of struggles in the OFF//SEASON window, where the team underperformed with 3rd-4th place at Predator League Philippines and 5-6th place in the ESL Clash of Nations SEA Closed Qualifier—particularly with the former event losing to domestic rivals Oasis Gaming.
Stepping into the vacated positions are returning player Jerome “Mojer” Literal and former Rex Regum Qeon player Emmanuel “Emman” Morales. The duo had previously been under the same banner during the OFF//SEASON with Valhalla. However, they were absent from Valhalla’s campaign in the Open Qualifier for VALORANT Challengers Philippines Split 1 in which Tesseract was seen alongside Emmanuel “jEEE” Buenavidez filling in their place, while the current whereabouts of Witz remain unknown for the time being.
Mojer is set to make a comeback to the banner he represented for a year between 2022 and 2023, where his first international debut at VCT Ascension Pacific ended with a semi-final appearance in the role of a duelist.
Meanwhile, Emman was with Rex Regum Qeon since July 2022, during a time when the organization still had an all-Filipino lineup and together clinched the 2022 Predator League Philippines title. He continued with the team for the 2023 season and competed in Seoul but assumed more of a sixth-man position and played in only certain maps mostly as Skye and KAY/0.
(Photos courtesy of NAOS Esports)
Therefore, NAOS Esports will maintain the continuity of three players from their prior international campaign in Bangkok and their two domestic victories from the previous year, although now operating without the presence of in-game leader Witz. In a piece of related news, former Reckoning Esports head coach Thanawat “olifant” Prathumta has been appointed as the team’s assistant coach and analyst.
The recently added NAOS Esports players are set to debut in the opening round of VALORANT Challengers Philippines Split 1. Their first official appearance will be against constant domestic rivals Oasis Gaming, who have also welcomed a new addition in the form of former VCT Pacific player from Team Secret, Jayvee “DubsteP” Paguirigan.
NAOS Esports are now:
- 🇵🇭 Deko “PapiChulo” Evangelista
- 🇵🇭 Johnty “JA” Arone
- 🇵🇭 Nathaniel “Nexi” Cabero
- 🇵🇭 Jerome “Mojer” Literal
- 🇵🇭 Emmanuel “Emman” Morales
- 🇵🇭 Jon Michael “Tesseract” Piga (Inactive)
- 🇵🇭 Riley “witz” Go (Inactive)
- 🇵🇭 Derren “aimix” dela Cruz (Coach)
- 🇹🇭 Thanawat “olifant” Prathumta (Assistant coach/Analyst)
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Cover photo courtesy of VCT Pacific
