PatMen

From Basketball Courts to Virtual Arenas

Patrick Mendoza grew up in Angat, Bulacan, where he was a dedicated varsity basketball player throughout his schooling at Colegio de Sta. Monica de Angat. His path seemed set for university basketball in Manila, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted those plans. During the lockdowns, his brother introduced him to Valorant. This was a significant shift, as Mendoza's prior gaming experience was in MOBAs like Dota and Mobile Legends, with no background in first-person shooters.

Climbing the Philippine Tier 2 Scene

Mendoza began his professional Valorant career in the Philippine Tier 2 circuit. He played for SR Nacague in 2022 before moving to ZOL Esports for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. His time with ZOL was marked by a major domestic victory at the Predator League Philippines in 2024. The team also reached the grand finals of the VCT Challengers League Philippines that same year, though they fell to NAOS Esports, narrowly missing qualification for the Pacific Ascension tournament. Mendoza's early 2025 season started with a brief stint on NAOS Esports in the VCT Challengers Southeast Asia league.

A Meteoric 2025 with Paper Rex

On March 4, 2025, the leading team Paper Rex signed Mendoza as a sixth player following a poor team performance at the VCT Pacific Kickoff. He soon replaced Aaron 'mindfreak' Leonhart in the starting lineup. His debut in April was a loss, but he was named MVP on the map Ascent, despite admitting to early struggles with mental pressure. The team steadily improved, qualifying for an international event by defeating DRX. They finished third in the VCT Pacific Stage 1.

The peak of Mendoza's 2025 season came at Valorant Masters Toronto in June. Paper Rex went undefeated in the playoffs, beating teams like G2 Esports and Sentinels before defeating Fnatic 3-1 in the grand finals. This historic win made Mendoza the first Filipino player to claim an international VCT Masters trophy. Later in the season, Paper Rex also won the VCT Pacific Stage 2 title in Tokyo. The team's year concluded with a top-four finish at Valorant Champions 2025 in Paris. On December 15, 2025, Paper Rex released Mendoza, citing complications from information leaks and negotiation timelines.

A New Chapter with Global Esports

Immediately following his release from Paper Rex, Global Esports announced on December 15, 2025, that Mendoza had joined their roster for the 2026 VCT season. He joined a lineup featuring fellow Filipino player Xavier 'xavi8k' Juan, marking a fresh start for the champion initiator.

Player Profile and Impact

PatMen is defined by his role as an Initiator. His former coach, Alexandre 'alecks' Sallé, highlighted that Mendoza's background in team sports like basketball was invaluable for aligning the team and managing in-game relationships. Teammate Jinggg pointed to Mendoza's vocal and confident personality as a key factor in improving the team's overall atmosphere. Outside of professional competitions, Mendoza has engaged with the fan community, participating in events like a fan meet at De La Salle University-Dasmariñas in November 2025.

Accolades and Recognition

The 2025 VCT Pacific Awards were a landmark moment for Mendoza's young career. He was honored with two major awards, VCT Pacific Rookie of the Year and VCT Pacific Initiator of the Year. He was also nominated for the Most Improved Player award, which was ultimately won by DRX's HYUNMIN.