Veejay Pre believes that international tournaments would be key for University of the Philippines’ chemistry to flourish even better.
That’s why the Fighting Maroons’ upcoming Asian University Basketball League participation serves a big purpose if they want to regain the UAAP crown in Season 89.
UP is set to become the first team from the Philippines to play in the pioneering pan-regional basketball competition that will feature 12 of the best programs from China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, and Chinese Taipei.
The 2nd AUBL Championship runs from August 2 to 9 at the Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.
“Napakalaking tulong ito at kumbaga ma-embrace yung struggles. Yung pagpunta namin doon sa China, especially ako — bago lang din ako sa UP. Palagi akong ginaguide nila Noy Remogat pagpunta kami sa ibang bansa,” said Pre, who transferred to UP in May last year.
“Noong una, nag-adjust ako, pero nandiyan naman ang mga kuya para turuan ako. Napaganda naman kasi sinusundan ko lang sila kaya continuous improvement lang kami,” he added.
It will be a new-look UP after the departure of its own “Maroon 5” in Harold Alarcon, Janjan Felicilda, Reyland Torres, Terrence Fortea, and Gerry Abadiano after Season 88, with the transferees and rookies looking to get much jelling time with the team this AUBL.
The Fighting Maroons were drawn to Group B alongside Hakuoh University of Japan and Korea University.
The Japanese squad won bronze in the inaugural AUBL last year, while the debuting Korean team carries five straight U-League national championships from 2021 to 2025 – making Pool B a stacked group.
But UP is ready to take on that challenge to gauge where its level is right now.
Aside from Pre, Remogat, Jacob Bayla. Gani Stevens, Francis Nnoruka, and Dieonte Miles will look to lead the Fighting Maroons’ charge in the AUBL.
“Sobrang laking bagay talaga, malaking tulong itong AUBL sa amin para masubukan namin kung hanggang saan kami. Para makita pa namin kung ano pang kaya naming i-improve,” said Pre, the UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year.
“Makakalaro namin yung mga best of the best sa ibang bansa. Sobrang laking bagay non para malaman namin kung hanggang saan kami. Makakakuha rin kami sa kanila ng knowledge. Sobrang laking bagay po yun.”
