FEU Tamaraws’ Veejay Pre receives his Rookie of the 12 months award for the UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball event. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines — Veejay Pre is honored to affix the elite checklist of Far Japanese College stars who gained UAAP Rookie of the 12 months, however now he’s setting his sights on persevering with the varsity’s successful custom.
Pre grew to become the primary Rookie of the 12 months from FEU since Terrence Romeo in 2010 and the seventh Tamaraw to win the award, becoming a member of Johnny Abarrientos (1989), Mark Victoria (1996), Leo Avenido (1999), Arwind Santos (2002), and JR Cawaling (2007).
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“To start with, I thank God for giving me this award,” Pre mentioned after receiving the UAAP Season 87 award on Wednesday on the Mall of Asia Area. “I’m joyful as a result of my arduous work is paying off. However within the coming season, I’ll make certain we make it to the playoffs and that I’ll carry out even higher.”
READ: UAAP: FEU rookie Veejay Pre attracts reward from Kevin Quiambao
The popularity solely fuels the hearth of FEU highschool standout to finish the varsity’s 10-year title drought in 2025.
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“I’m joyful to be a part of it, however I believe it could be even higher if we grow to be champions and make it to the playoffs—that’s the purpose for subsequent season,” he mentioned.
For the third straight season, FEU missed the Closing 4, putting sixth with a 5-9 elimination spherical end. However below new coach and PBA legend Sean Chambers, the younger Tamaraws, composed of Pre, legendary workforce member Mo Konateh, Janrey Pasaol, and Jorick Bautista, confirmed loads of guarantees this 12 months.
And the glimpse of their future impressed Pre and Co. to play tougher subsequent 12 months.
READ: ‘Way forward for UAAP’ Veejay Pre ‘can accomplish that way more,’ says FEU coach
“We’re hungrier subsequent season, and we’ll use this as motivation to make sure we’re absolutely ready,” Pre mentioned. “I’m excited for subsequent 12 months as a result of through the offseason, we’ll go tougher and work much more for the upcoming season.”
Konateh, the league’s finest rebounder and legendary member, shared the identical pleasure and willpower with Pre.
“We’re excited to play this season, and the very first thing we’re gonna do is we’re gonna apply first, go arduous at apply, and take a look at all of it first collectively,” he mentioned. “I want to thank my teammates, my coaches, and my FEU group additionally to assist me to get this award. I might attempt to do my finest to go farther than this 12 months and hopefully we get the Finals subsequent 12 months, that’s the purpose.”
