"We can't seem to bring the same intensity" – Coach alecks on Paper Rex's playoffs slump

Following a loss to Nongshim RedForce in the upper bracket of VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Pacific Stage 2, Paper Rex found themselves in a do-or-die lower bracket scenario. Their first obstacle was Korean tier-2 side ONSIDE GAMING. While a routine victory was expected, the series proved to be a grueling test.

Despite a disorganized start, Paper Rex’s experience prevailed, securing a 2-0 sweep. Following the win, THESPIKE sat down with Paper Rex’s head coach, Alexandre "alecks" Sallé. He shared candid thoughts on their map struggles, the Yoru meta, mental recovery from back-to-back grand final heartbreaks, and the double-edged sword of early Champions qualification.

"They gave us a good run on Abyss, but I think experience won out this time. You know, I believe that these guys will be a lot better next year..."

Bouncing Back Against the Tier 2 Challengers

For a team of Paper Rex's caliber, facing a Tier 2 squad like ONSIDE GAMING presents unique psychological challenges. The gap between regional tiers is narrowing, a trend alecks has observed globally. Rather than underestimating ONSIDE, Paper Rex approached the match with the same respect as a Tier 1 opponent. In lower bracket runs, complacency is fatal; a single slip-up means elimination.

By competing internationally, they have scrimmed against many Tier 2 rosters, often walking away with tactical takeaways. He expressed admiration for the general level of play emerging from the Tier 2 scene, noting that underestimating these hungry squads is dangerous.

"When we go into these kind of lower bracket runs... you kind of have to beat everyone if you want to make it to wherever you want to go... we just treat it like any other game. But... tier 2 teams, you know, I'm already very impressed..."

The Abyss Experiment and "Trial by Fire"

The series' toughest battle took place on Abyss. Paper Rex struggled early, looking disjointed as they dropped key rounds. Coach alecks called their performance a "trial by fire," frustrated by the squad's failure to execute pre-planned strategies and utility setups against ONSIDE GAMING. While admitting Abyss isn't one of their best maps, alecks insisted that playing through official match difficulties is crucial preparation for their upcoming Champions campaign.

"I mean, we're just bad on Abyss right now. It's like trial by fire for us... We're just trying to learn and play through the difficulties because in the event that we need to play it in Champs, we need to be ready this time..."

Embracing the Chaos of the Yoru Meta

The resurgence of Yoru in VCT Pacific Stage 2 perfectly suits Paper Rex's signature, creative playstyle. Coach alecks welcomed the duelist's return, noting that Yoru's active, teleporting toolkit keeps star player Ilia "something" Petrov fully immersed in the action. In his opinion, Yoru delivers highly dynamic gameplay that engages both players and spectators.

"I think Yoru is a fun agent to play because he can be everywhere on the map at once... He feels very involved in the game when he plays it rather than like playing Chamber... So he's happy, we're happy. I think it's more fun to watch Yoru play most of the time."

The Double-Edged Sword of Early Champions Qualification

Unlike regional competitors fighting to secure spots at Champions 2026, Paper Rex qualified early. While a testament to their season-long consistency, early qualification has introduced an unexpected psychological hurdle. The team has had a rare opportunity to rest, but this downtime has seemingly diminished their competitive edge.

Alecks noticed a drop in intensity during recent matches, describing their performances as lackluster and slow. The challenge is preventing this relaxed mindset from bleeding into their Champions campaign.

"I think the downside of that is we can't seem to bring the same intensity to matches right now... when I watch the boys play, it feels as though they're a little bit lackluster and a bit slow."

Overcoming the Heartbreak of the Finals

The 2026 season has been a story of near-misses for Paper Rex, finishing as runners-up at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Masters Santiago 2026 and VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Masters London 2026. Despite back-to-back grand final heartbreaks, alecks maintains a grounded perspective. Rather than letting "silver-medal syndrome" drag down their morale, the team focuses on their broader goals, such as consistently reaching the top four.

The head coach recognizes that winning an international trophy requires a perfect storm of form and luck, noting they ran into unstoppable opponents like Nongshim RedForce and Leviatán. By maintaining a positive attitude, the team has kept their spirits high and remains hungry for more.

"I mean, we've been second place many, many times, so it doesn't bother us anymore... the bigger goal usually is to make top four... we try and look at it as a positive thing... we're still happy-go-lucky in general."

You can watch the complete interview with alecks below:

Looking Ahead to VARREL and Future Triumphs

With ONSIDE GAMING defeated, Paper Rex’s immediate focus shifted to their lower bracket rematch against VARREL. Unfortunately, Paper Rex couldn't keep the "W Gaming" train going, as VARREL put a sudden end to their playoffs run. The Korean-side beat Paper Rex once again, this time with a hard-fought 2-1 victory, bringing their head-to-head score to 2-0 in Stage 2.

While this premature playoffs exit stings, the journey is far from over for the Pacific powerhouse. Under alecks’ steady guidance, Paper Rex will treat this regional setback as a crucial lesson, using this valuable tournament downtime to resolve tactical issues and prepare themselves thoroughly for their ultimate test at VALORANT Champions.

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