Much has changed since Rey Remogat last played for a team in the UAAP. In Season 88, he’s looking forward to make up for lost time with the UP Fighting Maroons.
UP point guard Rey Remogat is returning to a vastly different UAAP than when he left the UE Red Warriors more than a year ago.
Ahead of UAAP Season 88, Remogat will be plunging back into high-level basketball with a lot of changes both in himself and in the competition that he faces — most notable is the shift from a dark horse contender to a champion powerhouse.
But Remogat, who has not played in the UAAP since UAAP Season 86, is raring to hit the ground running with his new team.
[READ: Minus key pieces, UP Fighting Maroons brace for competitive title defense in UAAP Season 88]
“Sobrang excited ako kasi malalaro ko na ulit yung sport na mahal ko sa high level, sa UAAP,” Remogat told One Sports.
“Sobrang excited ako na ipakita ulit yung talent ko and makatulong sa team para makuha yung back-to-back.”
Of course, joining a star-studded UP team meant that Remogat also had to prove himself to his coaches and teammates.
Slowly but surely becoming a key cog in the Fighting Maroons offense, Remogat said that he just continues to build himself up.
Rey Remogat will be among key pieces in a stacked UP lineup in UAAP Season 88. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
Coming from an offseason where he got out of his shell and sharpened his skills overseas, Remogat said that he has learned the right mindset to keep up with his new team.
“Unang-una yung character [yung natutunan ko sa offseason] kasi sa lahat ng mga international training namin, yung character talaga yung talagang na-build namin. Kahit anong mangyari, magtutulungan kami as a team,” said Remogat.
“Syempre, kami-kami lang naman ang nadodoon. Kahit anong mangyari, hindi kami susuko sa mga situation na magpapahirap samin.”
Looking where it matters
Among the situations expected to face Remogat in Season 88 will be, of course, taking on his former team UE.
Rey Remogat will be on the other side of the court against his former UE teammates in UAAP Season 88. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
While the Red Warriors have had their own changes in the time that Remogat has been gone, the matchup promises intrigue and a little bit of history.
But as far as the now-UP guard is concerned, he’s eager to just let bygones be bygones.
At the end of the day, Remogat believes he ought to give everything he can for the sake of UP — not of whoever they’re facing.
“Naka-focus lang ako sa team namin ngayon and naka-focus lang ako sa goal namin and sa panalo. Siguro, normal lang din na makalaro ko uli sila,” he said, speaking of his former UE teammates.
“Nakakapanibago, pero wala tayo magagawa. Andito na tayo sitwasyon na ganito and kailangan nalang harapin yung mga ganung sitwasyon,” he continued.
Remogat will be expected to make his UAAP debut for UP when the defending champions face off against hosts UST on Sunday, September 21. That matchup is slated for 4:30 p.m. at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
—
Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.