UAAP: After top rookie award, Veejay Pre eyes Final 4 next for FEU
FEU Tamaraws’ Veejay Pre receives his Rookie of the Year award for the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Veejay Pre is honored to join the elite list of Far Eastern University stars who won UAAP Rookie of the Year, but now he is setting his sights on continuing the school’s winning tradition.
Pre became the first Rookie of the Year from FEU since Terrence Romeo in 2010 and the seventh Tamaraw to win the award, joining Johnny Abarrientos (1989), Mark Victoria (1996), Leo Avenido (1999), Arwind Santos (2002), and JR Cawaling (2007).
Article continues after this advertisement“First of all, I thank God for giving me this award,” Pre said after receiving the UAAP Season 87 award on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. “I’m happy because my hard work is paying off. But in the coming season, I’ll make sure we make it to the playoffs and that I’ll perform even better.”
READ: UAAP: FEU rookie Veejay Pre draws praise from Kevin Quiambao
The recognition only fuels the fire of FEU high school standout to end the school’s 10-year title drought in 2025.
Article continues after this advertisement“I’m happy to be part of it, but I think it would be even better if we become champions and make it to the playoffs—that’s the goal for next season,” he said.
For the third straight season, FEU missed the Final Four, placing sixth with a 5-9 elimination round finish. But under new coach and PBA legend Sean Chambers, the young Tamaraws, composed of Pre, mythical team member Mo Konateh, Janrey Pasaol, and Jorick Bautista, showed a lot of promises this year.
And the glimpse of their future inspired Pre and Co. to play harder next year.
READ: ‘Future of UAAP’ Veejay Pre ‘can do so much more,’ says FEU coach
“We’re hungrier next season, and we’ll use this as motivation to ensure we’re fully prepared,” Pre said. “I’m excited for next year because during the offseason, we’ll go harder and work even more for the upcoming season.”
Konateh, the league’s best rebounder and mythical member, shared the same excitement and determination with Pre.
“We’re excited to play this season, and the first thing we’re gonna do is we’re gonna practice first, go hard at practice, and try it all first together,” he said. “I would like to thank my teammates, my coaches, and my FEU community also to help me to get this award. I would try to do my best to go farther than this year and hopefully we get the Finals next year, that’s the goal.”
