Team Secret and Zeal Esports are getting a direct invite to group stage of the VCT Stage 1 – Challengers PH, the Phillippine Pro Gaming League announced, Saturday, Jan. 22.
The two invited teams were chosen based on their accumulated VCT points from last year.
Team Secret placed second in the Southeast Asia VCT rankings with a total of 225 points.
Although tied with Nigma Galaxy as the second ranked Filipino team in the VCT rankings with 30 points each, Zeal Esports got the invitation since it has the most number of retained players from the previous season as compared to NGX.
Zeal Esports, then 6045 Pirates, participated in the SEA Challengers Playoffs Stage 2 while Team Secret, formerly Bren Esports qualified to the Valorant Champions 2021 where it reached the playoffs and finished at the 5th to 8th place in the overall standings.
The two squads now await six other teams to join them in the group stage which will be determined through a two-phased open qualifier.
Phase 1 of the qualifier started on Saturday with the top 32 teams at the end of the two-day event moving on to Phase 2. Among the 32 squads, the six best teams at the end of Phase 2 set on Jan. 29-30 will secure the slots in the group stage.
The group stage and the playoffs of the Challengers PH will happen in February. The three best teams at the end of the tournament will get the chance to represent the country in the VCT SEA Finals.