The Prince returns: PatMen’s statement game against Paper Rex

In the world of sports and esports, few storylines are as compelling as the "revenge game" – a player facing the organization that released them, fueled by a desire to prove they were wrong. For Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza, the VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Pacific Kickoff match against Paper Rex was just that; a series of vindication.

Released by PRX in December 2025 despite a breakout season where he helped secure the VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Masters Toronto 2025 trophy, PatMen’s move to Global Esports was met with skepticism. Could the Filipino prodigy shine without the rest of the "W Gaming" powerhouse backing him up? The answer, based on the statistics from his debut match against his former squad, is a resounding yes.

The Narrative: A Point to Prove

The backdrop of this match was heavy with tension. PatMen, the reigning VCT Pacific Rookie of the Year, was replaced on the Paper Rex roster by fellow Filipino star Jiggs Adrian "invy" Reyes in a move described by PRX management as an "upgrade in firepower."

Stepping into the server with his new Global Esports teammates, PatMen wasn’t just a back-seat gamer, he dictated the flow of the game. While the series might not have gone the way of Global Esports, the individual battle was undeniably won by GE’s new star.

The Best Player on the Server

The post-match data paints a picture of a player possessed. PatMen topped the server charts in nearly every impactful metric, delivering a performance that eclipsed even the biggest superstars on his former team.

• Rating & Impact: PatMen secured a massive 1.28 Rating, the highest of any player in the series. For comparison, PRX’s top performer, Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto, finished with a 1.15 rating.
• Fragging Power: He dropped a server-high 59 kills across the series, maintaining a 1.34 K/D ratio. His ability to find kills consistently was crucial for GE, as evidenced by his +15 Kill Difference, a stark contrast to the rest of the lobby where the next highest positive differential was only +6 by Wang "Jinggg" Jing Jie.
• Consistency: Perhaps the most impressive stat was his 85.90% KAST (Kill, Assist, Survive, Trade). This indicates that in nearly 86% of the rounds played, PatMen provided meaningful value for his team. Against a team like PRX that thrives on chaos, being this reliable is a testament to his elite positioning and game sense.

The Head-to-Head: PatMen vs. invy

The inevitable comparison throughout the series was between PatMen and his replacement, invy. The data suggests that PatMen took this matchup personally, and left little doubt as to who the better player was.

While invy played a functional role for PRX, PatMen was a force of nature. He generated 15 more kills and 10 more opening duels than the man who took his spot. His Average Damage Per Round of 160.2 was significantly higher than invy's 128.5, proving that Paper Rex had let go of a player capable of carrying entire matches.

The Entry Fragger

One of the criticisms of PatMen’s time on PRX was that he sometimes played too passively within their hyper-aggressive system. On Global Esports, however, he has been unleashed.

PatMen recorded an astounding 13 First Bloods in the series, more than double the next highest player: Khalish "d4v41" Rusyaidee with 10. He was the spearhead of GE’s attack, fearlessly taking opening duels against the likes of Ilya "something" Petrov and Jinggg.

Winning 13 opening duels while only suffering 7 first deaths gives him nearly a 2:1 success rate in opening engagements. This level of entry efficiency is rare, rivaling the likes of Erick "aspas" Santos or Alexander "jawgemo" Mor. And it is especially impressive against a team that specializes in shutting down entries. It kept Global Esports competitive in rounds they had no business winning, forcing PRX to constantly play with a man down.

A bittersweet Masterclass

Despite Global Esports finishing with a positive team Kill Difference (+7) compared to Paper Rex’s negative (-7), they still lost the series. This statistical anomaly highlights just how close the match was. Although GE could did not manage to win their pick of Breeze, they absolutely battered PRX on their pick of Split. Even the decider came quite close, with PRX taking the win 13-10 on Bind.

However, for PatMen, this was a moral victory of the highest order. He proved that he wasn't carried by the Paper Rex system; he was a pillar of it. By dismantling the narrative that he was the "expendable" piece, PatMen has firmly established himself as the franchise player for Global Esports in 2026. If this performance is the baseline, GE is no longer just a participant in the Pacific League, they are a legitimate threat, led by a player with a chip on his shoulder and the aim to back it up.

Click HERE to learn more about the Pacific Kickoff structure and format. For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Riot Games