By Angel Joyce C. Basa

Ahead of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87, Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw rookie players took home multiple special recognitions during the awarding ceremony of the 17th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup tonight, June 12, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Tamaraw forward Veejay Pre was recognized as one of the top 10 players and was also part of the tournament’s Mythical Five.

In addition, shooting guard Jedrick Daa also belonged in the top 10 players while foreign student-athlete Mo Konateh received the Best Rebounder award.

During an interview, Pre shared his feeling about the trust that head coach Sean Chambers puts on him as a rookie.

“Una po na-pressure po ako pero nand’yan po ‘yung mga kuya ko—sina Kuya Cholo [Añonuevo], gina-guide po nila ako na ‘pag may opportunity [ay] i-take, and ‘yun lang, ‘yung kumpyansa lang and pray lang (First of all, I was pressured but my seniors are there—like Cholo Añonuevo, who guide me that I should take every opportunity, and be confident and just pray),” he said.

The Morayta cager also talked about the possibility of being one of FEU’s pride in producing talented forward players early in his career.

“Parang ngayon po, kulang pa po eh pero darating din po siguro d’yan kung magtatrabaho pa po ako. Saka na lang po ‘yun ‘pag tapos na po ‘yung trabaho ko sa FEU (For now, I think I am not good enough but I will get there soon if I work hard. That is for when I finish my job in FEU),” Pre stated.

The green-and-gold squad landed a bronze finish in the preseason tournament with eight rookies among their line up.

FEU currently awaits the beginning of the UAAP Season 87 basketball tournament which will commence later this year in September.

(Photo by Krystoffer Zyanel Bermudez/FEU Advocate)