Rey Remogat’s big game against Ateneo de Manila University last Wednesday was no fluke.
There, the University of the East last minute surprise had 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field in 24:42 of floor time against the Blue Eagles who emerged victorious in overtime, 69-66.
The follow-up was bigger, better, and more importantly, coupled with a W for the Red Warriors.
Remogat starred in UE’s 80-72 overtime win over De La Salle University, Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Sobrang sarap po sa pakiramdan na manalo lalo na po sa ganyang school. Naging motivation lang namin sa panalo ngayon is yung last game against Ateneo kasi sobrang dikit din ng laban na yun tapos hindi kami nakapag-finish strong,” said Remogat, who reset his career-high with 24 points to go with four rebounds, and three assists.
“Ngayon, naexecute namin yung talagang gusto namin mangyari,” added the freshman out of FEU-Diliman High School.
In the first half, he was held to just four points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field.
But the second half? a very different story.
Remogat helped the Red Warriors force extra period before joining hands with Kyle Paranada to finish off the Green Archers.
And his triple with 46.1 seconds left on the clock proved to be the dagger as the 19-year-old Red Warrior pulled off the trending “Night Night!” celebration.
“Yung pagpasa sa akin ng bola pagtingin ko kasi sa shot clock three seconds na lang so no choice na ako,” said Remogat. “Kumpyansa naman ako sa tira ko kaya tinira ko na.
“Syempre idol ko rin si Steph Curry kaya nagaya ko lang din. Siguro hype lang.”
UE coach Jack Santiago then shared that Remogat was a walk-in player for the resurgent basketball program.
The now Red Warrior standout was not recruited. According to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation Remogat initially committed to Adamson University but once Clint Escamis left UE, he tried his luck as a walk-in.
“Alam niyo si Remogat walk-in ito. Walk-in na nag tryout lang ito,” shared Santiago.
“Wala itong mga nirecommend ni ganito, ni ganyan. Nag walk-in lang itong batang ito.”
And suddenly, one problem of the second-year UE coach has been solved as he has already found an able replacement for Nikko Paranada, who has played his last game in Red Warriors uniform.
Finishing this season at 5-9, it was a huge improvement from their winless record in Season 84.
But come 86, Remogat is betting on themselves even more.
“Actually, una pa lang nitong season ready na kami, naghihintay lang ako ng chance talaga. Siguro sa next season sobrang ready na talaga kami,” said Remogat.
“Hindi na kami pwedeng tawagin na dark horse. Dapat respetuhin na kami as a high team.”
