“PRX has welcomed me in. It feels like home,” coach mini on returning to the coaching booth at VALORANT Champions 2025

Paper Rex (PRX) defeated G2 Esports in the opening match of the VALORANT Champions 2025 Playoffs. At the press conference, the team discussed their rough start, how they regained confidence during difficult moments, and their upcoming match against FNATIC. Coach mini’s return to the booth alongside coach alecks was a standout moment.

At the Paper Rex press conference, assistant coach Jacob "mini" Harris made his first appearance in the room wearing the team’s iconic pink jersey. After three successful years with FNATIC, where he claimed the VCT 2023: LOCK//IN São Paulo, the VALORANT Masters Tokyo 2023, and two domestic Tier 1 titles, his move to Paper Rex has drawn plenty of attention. Fans were eager to hear his reflections and insights as he began this new chapter as PRX’s assistant coach.

Head coach Alexandre "alecks" Sallé revealed that mini had been invited to join the coaching booth by himself. The coach mini has been actively supporting the team since the start of the year. Reflecting on the transition, Jacob "mini" Harris shared that “it felt like home,” adding that he’s grateful for the opportunity to work with the Pacific squad. “I think the boys, alecks, and the team have welcomed me in. So it does feel very natural, though, at times, a little unnatural as well,” he said.

Coach alecks, usually intense, seemed more relaxed with mini beside him. Manager Tommy even joked that he looked like a different person. Mini added: “I don’t speak Paper X yet, so alecks translates my ideas. I avoid overwhelming the boys.”

Up next for Paper Rex is FNATIC, a matchup with added weight for coach mini, who holds deep care and respect for his former team. “Personally, I don’t love playing against people I know as much, but it will be fun for sure if I have to go up against Boaster,” he said. “I know he’ll probably be feeling the pressure to win a bit more than I do, since he’s the one playing. For me, it’s a bit more relaxed. But yeah, if we face them, I just hope it’ll be a good game.”

Speaking about the match against G2, a series many fans described as worthy of a Grand Final, Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto admitted they were aware of the challenges from the very start. He highlighted the importance of the pistol rounds and emphasized how crucial it was for the team to capitalize on their momentum once they gained the advantage.

Rookie Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza believes that experience plays a decisive role in tournaments like this. That is why he constantly seeks advice from his teammates and coaches. Reflecting on the series against G2, he admitted it was a tough challenge with a rough start. However, he credited the team’s ability to regain its confidence and bring the energy back into the game.

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