“It was an in-the-moment decision”: G2’s IGL Valyn on JonahP’s departure

G2 Esports’ resolution to take away Jonah ‘JonahP’ Pulice from its VALORANT roster forward of the 2026 VCT season shocked the neighborhood.

The transfer left little to no time for the Canadian participant to discover a new workforce and got here as a shock, particularly contemplating the organisation’s performances all through 2025.

Not solely did G2 Esports prolong its keep within the Worldwide League for one more yr by qualifying for VALORANT Champions 2025, but it surely additionally completed second at Masters Bangkok whereas securing a high 5 placement at Masters Toronto.

On high of that, the Ascension workforce dominated all three regional occasions, profitable VCT Americas Kickoff, Stage 1, and Stage 2.

Talking with Esports Insider on the 2026 Americas Kickoff pre-event press convention concerning the JonahP’s elimination, G2’s IGL Jacob ‘valyn’ Batio revealed that it was a sudden resolution.

“We’re all the time searching for small methods to enhance as a workforce. I might say this Offseason was a busy one, and it was one thing that wasn’t one thing that was actually anticipated. I feel everybody can attest to that. It was one thing that was a really a lot within the second resolution,” he mentioned.

Explaining the addition of Andrej ‘babybay’ Francisty to the beginning lineup, after he initially joined as a stand-in for Nathan ‘leaf’ Orf earlier for Esports World Cup, Valyn added:

“We thought Andrej [babybay] may herald a novel perspective for us that we haven’t had at these worldwide occasions, which is simply the psychological aspect of the sport. We noticed a rise in our efficiency after we performed with him in Stage 2 when leaf was gone, and I’m certain everybody remembers these moments.

“G2 seemed revitalized with babybay, so we needed to attempt to sprinkle that in going into 2026 with him being on the beginning roster as a result of he’s nonetheless acquired it. Everybody is aware of that babybay prior to now was one of many strongest mechanical gamers in VALORANT,” he additional elaborated.

babybay helped G2 win its second Crimson Residence Floor trophy with an 220 ACS efficiency, whereas additionally securing a high 5 place on the VALORANT Radiant Worldwide Invitational. 

Including on to Valyn’s feedback, babybay mentioned, “I feel Jacob [Valyn] hit the nail on the top with numerous what he mentioned. I feel one in every of my foremost jobs right here is to maintain these guys on monitor, particularly mentally.  I do know I assist out rather a lot together with his calling, whereas protecting everybody targeted when issues can get distracting.”

Speaking about his return to aggressive VALORANT and particular person efficiency, babybay added:

“It’s been enjoyable discovering the shape once more and with the ability to create my very own distinctive type of play on these new brokers and nobody actually is aware of how I’m going to be taking part in them.”

G2 has undeniably been probably the most constant groups in VCT because it entered the Worldwide League in 2024. That mentioned, the organisation remains to be chasing its first worldwide title. 

The roster got here near at Masters Bangkok; nonetheless, narrowly missed out in a heartbreaking best-of-five sequence towards T1. 

Valyn acknowledged the psychological stress the workforce has skilled on stage and talked about that bringing in babybay seems like a step in the suitable path. The IGL additionally hopes to elevate at the least one worldwide trophy throughout the 2026 season:

“Final yr was nice, but it surely additionally wasn’t at instances. We failed fairly badly at Champs [Champions Paris] and I feel all of us took that on the chin fairly exhausting. I might say in Toronto, we acquired high 4, but when we’re trustworthy with ourselves, we needed to make a 3-11 comeback to even get there. It took a miracle to even be in that place and it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient.

“We’re searching for a method to get that first place. Possibly that is the reply, perhaps it isn’t, however we really feel prefer it’s the suitable path for our workforce. It was a tough resolution [parting ways with JonahP], however we’ll see the way it performs out,” Valyn elaborated.

Since G2 Esports certified for Champions Paris, it should start its 2026 VCT marketing campaign within the second spherical of the triple-elimination bracket at Americas Kickoff. The workforce will face the winner of LEVIATÁN vs 100 Thieves within the higher bracket on January seventeenth in a best-of-three sequence.

All matches from the occasion shall be streamed stay on VCT Americas’ official Twitch and YouTube channels.