Rey Remogat will have the responsibility of taking over JD Cagulangan’s role with the UP Fighting Maroons.
His return to the UAAP might still be months ahead, but there is already mounting expectations for point guard Rey Remogat as he opens a new chapter of his collegiate career with the UP Fighting Maroons as defending champions in Season 88.
After the exit of JD Cagulangan, the responsibility now falls on Remogat to pick up the pieces for the Diliman squad, who will be sorely missing the two-time UAAP champion guard's playmaking and leadership.
But after having spent one year of his residency with Cagulangan as his mentor, Remogat has picked up a thing or two from the Suwon KT Sonicboom import.
Ready to take the reins, Remogat is eager to tap into his inner Cagulangan to take on the responsibility.
“'Yung experience na makasama [si JD] nung residency ko, masaya eh. Kasi marami kang matututunan. Marami akong natutunan sa kanya na dapat kong madala this season,” Remogat said after leading UP’s offense in their opening win over NU at the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
Already with his own arsenal of skills, Remogat doesn’t need much mentoring in terms of his on-court game. But rather, the 22-year-old is hoping to take on Cagulangan’s mentality when it comes to the game.
Expected to lead a team like the Fighting Maroons, where pressure is mounting, Remogat will look to hold on to how Cagulangan handled everything with poise and a winner’s spirit.
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“Siguro yung pagiging champion niya, yun yung dapat kong makuha sakanya. Talagang yung effort niya and yung pagiging fighter niya sa loob ng laro.” he said.
Responsibilities aside, Remogat has shown eagerness to finally make it back to the pinnacle of collegiate basketball when UAAP Season 88 rolls around. After watching from the sidelines when the Fighting Maroons won it all last year, the former UE Red Warrior will attempt to run it back.
“Sobrang excited syempre, as a basketball player, kahit sino naman [maeexcite maglaro sa UAAP]. Kahit maglaro nga lang kung saan, excited ako. Paano pa kung UAAP to.” said Remogat, who had to redshirt one year because of his transfer.
“Sobrang excited ako na makabalik uli ako ng UAAP after ng residency ko and naexcite lang ako ipakita ulit yung talent ko.”
Before the UAAP though, Remogat and the rest of the Fighting Maroons will need to deal with preseason tournaments first — including the FilOil tiff where they are chasing a three-peat bid.
Overseas camps are also on the calendar for the UAAP champions.