Veejay Pre delivered a career-high scoring performance against the UST Growling Tigers on Wednesday, finishing with 30 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block to lead the UP Fighting Maroons to a hard-fought double-overtime win.
However, according to Pre himself, his personal achievements are only secondary. Instead, he values the trust that his UP coaches have placed in him more.
Rewarding Goldwin Monteverde’s Trust
Following UP’s sixth win in this UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, Veejay Pre emphasized that he was less concerned about his individual scoring output and more focused on rewarding the trust that head coach Goldwin Monteverde had placed in him.
“Para sa akin hindi ko iniisip ‘yung score ko. Iniisip ko kung paano ako makakatulong sa team. Iniisip ko ‘yung mga tiwalang ibinibigay ng mga coaches ko, kung paano ibabalik ‘yun,” Pre told reporters postgame. “And buti kanina nabalik ‘yung tiwala ng mga coaches sa akin.”
In the second overtime, the 6-foot-5 forward scored all seven of UP’s points to help the Fighting Maroons secure a share of the top spot in UAAP Season 89.
Veejay Pre Explains the Approach
When asked whether UP had deliberately designed its offense to make him the first option, the Season 87 Rookie of the Year explained that the game was no longer about X’s and O’s but about which team had the greater determination to win.
“Siyempre, best possible shot pa rin pero sabi niya [Coach Monteverde] nga kanina, wala na ‘yung X’s and O’s kanina. Kumbaga ang labanan puso ba kung sino may pinakamalaking puso, siya mananalo,” Pre explained.
The Fighting Maroons are currently on a four-game winning streak and sit at No. 2 in the standings, toting the same 6-2 slate as the NU Bulldogs. Veejay Pre and UP will again be put to the test when they face the UE Red Warriors later today at the Blue Eagle Gym.
