BBL confirms controversial signing of entire PCIFIC roster for VCT EMEA 2026

In a controversial offseason shake-up, BBL Esports have signed the entire roster of PCIFIC Espor, the team that won 2025’s VCT Ascension EMEA 2025. The group — Ali “Crewen” Eren Sargin, Utku “Loita” Kart, Yusuf “Lar0k” Kaan Kanber, Eren “Rosé” Erzan, Umut “lovers rock” Pekdoğan, and head coach Mert “KEY” Çelebi — will now represent BBL directly in VCT EMEA 2026.

The move closes the chapter on PCIFIC Espor’s 2025 run, as the organization now must rebuild from scratch, though they retain the VCT EMEA slot for 2026. For BBL, the acquisition marks a fresh start: a roster that has already proven capable of dominating tier-2 and climbing to tier-1 by means of performance.

From Underdogs to Champions: The Journey of the BBL’s New Lineup

The story begins with PCIFIC’s rise through the lower tiers. Founded as a young Turkish roster, PCIFIC worked their way up in 2024 from Premier to being one of the standout teams in Turkish Challengers. They captured the Challengers Turkey title and placed second at Ascension 2024 after a loss to Apeks in the grand final. That autumn, they partnered with BBL, adopting the joint name “BBL PCIFIC.”

In 2025, the core remained stable,with the exception of one departure, and the roster exploded: they swept all three Turkey Challengers splits, then dominated across EMEA. Their campaign culminated in the Ascension EMEA 2025 title, punching them through to VCT EMEA 2026. Their semifinal vs DNSTY was decisive, and the roster delivered under high stakes, with key performances from lovers rock and others.

This ascent wasn’t just about wins — it was about sticking together. Despite individual offers along the way,notably the departure of their prior star duelist, the core five remained intact, with lovers rock stepping up to fill big shoes. Their chemistry, commitment, and resilience through roster changes and high-pressure matches proved the worth of their bond.

Golden Generation has arrived. pic.twitter.com/FHYaqCABLE

— BBL (@BBL_esports) November 27, 2025

For the players, joining BBL, a well-established VCT-eligible org, represents validation after support from them all year. However, the move hasn’t been free of controversy. Some in the community questioned whether such a wholesale takeover undermines the spirit of Ascension, which is supposed to reward the team that earned promotion. Others wondered if BBL’s affiliate relationship to PCIFIC gave them unfair advantage. The head of VCT EMEA esports, Daniel Ringland, responded directly: after reviewing all contracts and possible conflicts, they found “no wrongdoing.” Under the current rules, roster transfers post-promotion are allowed, even if every player moves — meaning this move is legal under VCT regulations.

What’s Next: High Hopes and Heavy Expectations

As BBL prepares for the 2026 VCT season with this new roster, expectations will be high. Fans will be watching to see if the synergy and dominance from 2025 carry over against long-established top-tier EMEA competition. For the former PCIFIC players, now under the BBL banner, it’s a test of whether chemistry and talent alone can carry them, or if they need further adaptation, refinement, and growth to compete at the highest level.

What is clear is this: the journey from underdog Challenger roster to VCT-eligible contender was earned by the players through dedication, shared hardship, and a belief in collective strength. Whether BBL can sustain that momentum remains to be seen, but the foundation is as real as any in the EMEA VALORANT scene right now.