UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year Veejay Pre is now with the UP Fighting Maroons after leaving the FEU Tamaraws. He will be eligible to play for Diliman in UAAP Season 89.
Much has been said about the way that the UP Fighting Maroons were able to secure the commitment of reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Veejay Pre.
Following a high-profile departure from the FEU Tamaraws that also involved familial drama, Pre was revealed to be heading to UP Diliman last May 23 to join the defending UAAP champions.
The announcement came just two days after Pre penned a lengthy farewell message to his previous team, ending what was a short and fruitful, but difficult relationship with FEU.
For a number of supporters, UP’s timing was sort of in bad taste — especially considering previous reports cited that UP would not be pursuing Pre if he should transfer out of FEU.
[RELATED: Veejay Pre lands in UP as Fighting Maroons boost future frontcourt plans]
But a source familiar with the situation clarified that UP didn’t categorically say that the team would not go after Pre. Rather, the Fighting Maroons would only make a move once things have been ironed out with FEU.
“UP never said they will not pursue Pre. What officials said over and over again was if ever kakausapin na nga formally, aantayin nilang magpaalam si Veejay,” the source told One Sports a day after the Maroons announced the now-former Tamaraw.
The same source claimed that initial reports “misquoted” UP.
“Once nakapagpaalam na sa FEU, which happened a day before pa nung nag-social media post siya, UP coaching staff scheduled meetings with Pre and family.”
[RELATED: Veejay Pre bids emotional farewell to FEU, calls it 'hardest decision ever']
Last May 8, FEU athletics director Mark Molina told reporters that top officials from both the Fighting Maroons and DLSU Green Archers assured the Tamaraws that they will not go after Pre amid the ongoing issue.
Likewise, Molina reaffirmed that Veejay indeed wanted to stay in Morayta. However, his father had already communicated his intention to pull Pre out of the Tamaraws during a visit to FEU Diliman a day prior.
“Veejay told us, ‘I want to stay in FEU. The usual, my friends, this is my family, I am very happy here,’” said Molina.
“He’s very loyal. Napakabait na obedient to his father, but he wants to stay where his heart belongs. Even his friends are telling us na hindi na siya makatulog, he's crying all the time.”
The source, meanwhile, insisted that UP only began formally talking to Pre on Monday, which was when he already decided to depart from the Tamaraws.
[RELATED: Sean Chambers speaks on Veejay Pre’s departure from FEU: ‘We all have to move on’]
“Formal talks between UP officials and Pre family only began on Monday. This is opposed to feelers sent out by assistants and some boosters throughout this saga,” the source said.
“UP hoped to get Pre [who wouldn’t], but early on, there was widespread belief that La Salle was the frontrunner, with UST also making a good push.”
Due to roster fit and other recruits, it seemed like the better option for Pre to go with UP following his exit from FEU.
It was a win-win situation for the Fighting Maroons, who are now lacking in the frontcourt rotation with the departures of Quentin Millora-Brown and Francis Lopez.
“In a strictly basketball sense, UP presented a case na saktong-sakto kulang ng Maroons ng [power forward]. This is as compared to La Salle na andaming bigs, including new recruit [Lebron Jhames] Daep, and UST, na kakakuha lang din kay Koji [Buenaflor],” said the source.
As for the rapid development of the decision, the source said that Pre and UP were in continuous daily contact since the initial communication on Monday, and things were ironed out officially by the end of the week.
“Meetings, whether phone call or online or in person, happened daily. Last Friday, pumunta ang UP officials, led by [UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development Director] Bo [Perasol], sa Floridablanca to seal the deal,” they said.
Regardless of all that went down, Pre is now officially a Fighting Maroon. He will redshirt one season in the UAAP and will be available for UP in UAAP Season 89.
However, due to the UAAP rule change, Pre will only have two more playing years left in his eligibility — this is because transferees from member schools will relinquish two years of eligibility, as opposed to before where they only lose one year.
(With reports from Kiko Demigillo)