Rey Remogat.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — University of the East guard Noy Remogat was extra motivated to play against Far Eastern University as he was raring to bounce back from his struggles in their first-round collision.
Remogat was also eager to step up for his injury-laden team in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.
Remogat tallied a new career-high of 34 points, highlighted by six triples, to go with eight assists, six rebounds, and three steals to lead UE past FEU in overtime, 87-86, to stay in Final Four contention on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The second-year point guard was limited to only eight points on 2-of-10 shooting in their first encounter against the Tamaraws last month.
“Siguro, yung mindset ko kasi against them makabawi kasi ayun nga last game nai-stop nila ako. And then yung game na yun parang yun yung nagmotivate sakin na hindi pupwedeng mangyari yung mga ganun bagay kasi pag nangyayari yun parang wala na akong naitutulong sa team kaya nung after nun talagang extra ako sa mga weights and sa mga skills ko,” said Remogat after the win.
Remogat, who became the first Red Warrior to score more than 30 points since Alvin Pasaol in 2018, wanted to prevail over FEU, which was his high school team in Season 82 juniors basketball.
“Siyempre yun nga, na-motivate din ako kasi FEU, doon ako nanggaling,” he said.
More than bouncing back from his underwhelming performance against his former school, Remogat was determined to step up for his injured teammates Devin Fikes, who suffered an ACL injury, and Gjerard Wilson, who already went home to the US due to a season-ending shoulder injury.
“Siguro yung mindset para sa akin is lalong mag-step up kumabaga kung ano yung role na nawala, pupunan ko rin,” said Remogat. “Siyempre, alam naman natin si Wilson, point guard din so iniisip ko lang na para sa kanya rin yung laro and laro na ginagawa ng team and kay FIkes naman ganun din yun nagiging mindset ng ng bawat isa sa amin.”
UE, which is now tied with Ateneo in fifth place with identical 4-6 records, tries to bolster its Final Four chances with four games left in its eliminations campaign starting on Wednesday against the top-seed University of the Philippines.
“Mas lalo kaming maghahanda sa game na yun, sa team and individually kailangan namin paghandaan yun and kailangan namin mas lakasan yung mindset ng bawat isa and ng team na kahit na ganun ka-top 1 na team eh kailangan namin lumaban and manalo sa mga ganung team,” Remogat said.