UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol expressed his pride that another Fighting Maroon will don the national colors in an international basketball competition.
Following in the footsteps of Javi and Juan Gomez de Liaño, Phoenix guard Ricci Rivero, and current Gilas forward Carl Tamayo, Pre’s inclusion in Norman Black’s initial eight-man roster for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games is a testament to the strength of UP’s men’s basketball program over the past decade.
For Pre, the call-up is a full-circle moment, as he was once cut from the Gilas Youth pool for the 2022 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship in Qatar during his time as an FEU Tamaraw.
“We’re very proud of Veejay. And we all know what he can do. Lalo na, nababalitaan natin that a lot of our players will not be available. Lalo yung mga malalakas sa Japan and Korea,” Perasol said during the UP Renewal of Partnership with Robinsons, Nowhere to Go but UP, and Top Breed held Monday morning at the UP Executive House in Quezon City.
“So, itong someone like Veejay, who is also as skilled as them, to be invited or to be part of that, we’re really proud of him because he’s also part of our program.”
Black’s preliminary roster already boasts naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame, B.League standouts Ray Parks and Matthew Wright, PBA draftee Jason Brickman, Fil-Am guard Remy Martin, Abra Weavers forward Dave Ildefonso, and Season 87 Rookie of the Year Pre.
With four slots still open, Black hopes the UAAP will recalibrate its collegiate basketball schedule to allow other student-athletes to suit up for Gilas Men in the biennial regional tournament this December.
Specifically, the former Ateneo and Meralco tactician is eyeing reinforcements with size to support Kouame, Brownlee, and Pre in the paint.
“We are also hoping for some consideration from the UAAP since they have a lot of young and talented big men who can help us. Hopefully, they’ll be able to make adjustments to allow some of their players to play in the Southeast Asian Games,” Black said.
For his part, Perasol assured that UP is more than willing to lend players to support Black’s campaign — especially with Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde also serving as one of Black’s assistants.
It is guaranteed, however, that the 33rd SEA Games schedule will not clash with the final stretch of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament in December.
“O, di ba, part din si Coach Gold sa coaching staff niya. Pag hindi naman mag-i-interfere dun sa dulo ng UAAP tournament, I’m sure we’ll all be willing to lend them,” Perasol concluded.
