In a surprising twist, Team Secret has made the bold decision to move their rising star, Noel “NDG” De Guia, to the reserve squad while parting ways with veteran player Jim “Borkum” Timbreza. This shake-up leaves the team with only three active members as they gear up for VCT Pacific Stage 2.
NDG’s stint with the Filipino powerhouse spanned roughly seven months. After making a name for himself with Naos Esports from 2022 to 2023, the 19-year-old Filipino joined TS in October 2023, replacing Jayvee “Dubstep” Paguirigan.
While many anticipated changes within the team following their shocking defeat to T1 in the Pacific Stage 1 knockout, NDG’s benching has certainly raised eyebrows. Despite a rocky performance during the Pacific Kickoff, he rebounded and became a key player in the latter stage.
Borkum, on the other hand, had been with the team since September 2021, following the organization’s takeover from Bren Esports. The former CSGO pro was instrumental in TS’ domestic dominance and their qualification for international events like Masters and Champions Berlin in 2020 and 2021. Before his departure, he was the third oldest player on the team after substitute Kevin “Dispenser” Te (29) and in-game leader Jessie “JessieVash” Cuyco (34).
With these changes, it appears TS is aiming to inject fresh talent into their Valorant squad and overhaul a strategy that heavily relied on JessieVash’s leadership. However, it remains uncertain whether they will maintain their ‘Filipino Pride’ tag or bring in free agent imports as Stage 2 looms just three weeks away.
