JoshRT on G2's recent struggles: “It’s good to be an underdog again”

The VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Americas Stage 2 Play-Ins are in the past, and it is time for the Playoffs to begin. One of the final two Play-Ins matches was between G2 Esports and ENVY. G2, who usually thrive in regional tournaments, faced an early elimination for the first time in a long time.

Against ENVY, G2 came out on top, securing their spot in the Playoffs after a hard-fought series. THESPIKE spoke to G2 Head Coach Josh "JoshRT" Lee after the game about their recent issues on the server.

Close match-up

The game against ENVY looked to be a straightforward 2-0 for G2 until ENVY mounted a comeback and stole Ascent. The decider, Haven, also looked to be close until G2 woke up and ran away with the score.

Even though G2 managed to close it out in the end, it was a stressful match for coach JoshRT, who saw plenty that needs to improve moving forward.

THESPIKE: I wanted to hear your thoughts on the game because it got quite close there in the end.

JoshRT: “I mean, that series was a lot of stress. There's a lot of stakes at play. It's for the last game of the season for both squads. We do have an out with champ points, but we don't really view it that way. It's just a lower bracket do or die match.

Our Lotus is like back to its previous strength, and then we go to Ascent. I think we were making a lot of defensive errors, giving up a little bit too much space, kind of letting them dictate what they wanted to do. And we were just kind of falling behind.

But props to Andrej "babybay" Francisty. He gave a little bit of a speech to just try to say like, hey, what's in the past is the past. We gotta make sure we got a map three game plan. And when it got really close, there were a lot, a lot of clutch moments from us to convert that map three and I’m very proud of the boys for responding that way. It was an incredible display of resilience, honestly.”

THESPIKE: When they lost in the upper bracket, that defense has been like a bit of a problem sometimes for you guys. Why do you think that is?

JoshRT: “I think it's because you have to answer some of the tough questions and you have to be proactive and make some decisions and choices. You can't just sit back.[...]

This squad has had issues on defensive sides; like, especially in the international stages where we're playing against higher quality opponents or just players that just put the pressure on and maybe put us in a disadvantaged state. And so we just need to have a play to win mentality and just make tough choices is not going to be certain. You just got to make the choice and just play out the scenario from there.[...]

I mean, that's going to be the next thing we'll be fixing for this upcoming week.”

VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Americas Stage 2

ENVY

1

X

2

G2 Esports

Lower Bracket Round 4 of 6 - Qualifier Decider, Best of 3 - August 23, 2026 - 9:00PM

6

Lotus

13

14

Ascent

12

8

Haven

13

ENVY

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

keznit

1.18

254

57/51/13

+6

1.12

71.1%

164.1

26%

79%

15

4

nightz

0.94

184

42/53/30

-11

0.79

74.5%

134.4

38%

45%

5

6

Rossy

0.92

173

42/44/16

-2

0.95

66.0%

112.8

28%

43%

3

4

GLYPH

0.86

185

40/51/14

-11

0.78

71.4%

122.8

30%

56%

5

4

Demon1

0.63

146

36/49/6

-13

0.73

60.4%

98.2

36%

25%

5

15

G2 Esports

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

babybay

1.23

242

58/41/20

+17

1.41

75.5%

159.4

22%

55%

11

9

leaf

1.19

219

52/38/30

+14

1.37

86.1%

145.4

22%

33%

3

6

valyn

1.11

205

48/48/31

0

1.00

77.2%

122.3

22%

55%

6

5

trent

1.08

204

48/42/20

+6

1.14

77.3%

140.4

31%

67%

6

3

jawgemo

0.84

185

42/48/13

-6

0.88

71.9%

123.0

16%

39%

7

11

One match away from elimination

G2 have for a long time been revered as the kings of the Americas after winning one regional title after another. This time around, their story is a lot different. After being sent down to the lower bracket by FURIA in the Play-Ins, G2 are now one game away from being eliminated from the tournament.

The pressure puts both the players and JoshRT's ability to coach them to the test.

THESPIKE: Do you feel worried about where the team is right now?

JoshRT: “I think it's my job to kind of worry, but also to set direction for the team and just try to reassure the guys like, hey, this is the outlook that we have. It is what it is. We're just going to be realistic.

And this has been a year of a lot of tough and honest conversations with the guys. We're not the G2 that we once were in terms of just the results were all positive, right? At least domestically, but the competition within the regions has risen. And so it's a lot of moments where we got humbled a little bit. And it's just a hard look at the mirror, like, what do we need to do to improve? I've been there to try to guide that.

I think this has been a year of growth, to be honest. It's an upwards battle. And in a way, it's kind of how we like it, it's good to be an underdog again. [...] Maybe that's what's required for us to finally make that leap to maybe capturing an international trophy, I don't know.”

THESPIKE: Do you feel like you're growing as a coach when you're put in this more of a difficult situation?

JoshRT: “I think so. Its a humbling experience for sure. I think I had to develop more this skill of just trying to inspire confidence in my players a little bit more.

Before it was very easy because the results kind of showed that and like, I have to adapt based on where the team is. Last year was about making sure they're on top of their stuff constantly because I don't want overconfidence to be the issue. And then now it's more about their lowering confidence and trying to reassure or give the path forward, like, here's how to improve in these aspects and maybe we won't get the result right away.”

Feels good to be an underdog

To stay in the fight and ultimately take home another regional trophy, JoshRT has some plans for the coming days as G2 prepare for their first Playoffs match.

From his perspective, he knows the squad will thrive under the pressure and make it to the Grand Final.

THESPIKE: It's not going to be easier from here. Now you're gonna meet the guys waiting and they've been having some off time practicing. What are your focuses going into the playoffs?

JoshRT: “Since the playoffs map pool is different, we're going to be working on making sure the map pool is strong and consistent for whoever we play against. Since we're in the lower bracket we're going to keep practicing. We're going to do what we usually do. It's a week by week thing. Nothing really changes.”

THESPIKE: You don't think the situation is going to put more pressure for the boys? You think they will rise to the occasion?

JoshRT: “I think so. I think this is all training for the big one, I think. That's the only way I should frame it. I guarantee you there's going to be an upset somewhere in the upper bracket. And they're going to come meet us down here.

And we've been here the whole time. That's the way I'm going to frame it to the boys and, and they're going to fight for their lives. And we've been fighting for our lives here or our last game. We're going to just take advantage of that kind of situation.”

For more VCT interviews, stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG.

Featured image source: THESPIKE.GG & Riot Games