If there was a way to describe Veejay Pre’s UAAP Season 89 thus far, it could very well be “trust the process”. 

Four games into Season 89, Pre has had an uneven campaign where he can either contribute beyond the stat sheet and win or play his best but in the end, it will be for naught. Sure, the former FEU Tamaraw had 14 points and nine rebounds in a blowout against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, but much of those came with the game having been decided already. In losses to the NU Bulldogs and the Tamaraws, Pre scored in double figures, but it really didn’t do much to change the UP Fighting Maroons’ fortunes. 

To be fair, Pre hasn’t been Jacob Bayla or Rey Remogat-levels of horrendous offensively, as he averaged 12.0 points on 50 percent shooting from the field prior to facing the DLSU Green Archers. The need to stamp his class on a game was not really something thrust on him by the Maroons, who have a loaded roster. 

But UP didn’t need to wait long before Pre could finally have his signature moment with the game hanging in the balance. 

In a rematch of last season’s finals, the DLSU Green Archers went on an 8-0 run during the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. The Maroons held the lead for most of the game but the Green Archers rallied and were looking to steal a victory and continue to exert their mastery over their rivals. Entering the game against LaSalle with a 2-2 win-loss record, UP dropping to 2-3 would have been disastrous even if the rest of their first round schedule was quite favorable. But Pre took matters into his own hands.  

Pre scored three points in what would be a pivotal 7-0 run for the Maroons, who gathered themselves and averted a collapse that would have brought about some panic. Remogat atoned himself as well with his best performance in Season 89 thus far, but it was Pre who made the big shot that restored calm within UP and let them take control of the game once and for all. 

To expect Pre to play with the flash that comes with the athleticism of a Zavier Lucero, the skills of a Carl Tamayo, or the finesse of a Ricci Rivero may be too much of an ask. Pre’s game is predicated on exploiting mismatches and what the defense gives him overall. Normally, his size would have been ideal for working in the paint, but he has extended his range and become more versatile as a result. Even with his ability, Pre has no frills to his game; his efficiency and stands out and how he continues to perform despite defenses being attuned to him will matter more than the flair that others may seek. After all, winning trumps everything. 

The UP Fighting Maroons’ upcoming games against the Adamson Soaring Falcons and the winless UE Red Warriors are favorable on paper, but these games are still won on the court. Veejay Pre has the opportunity to shine in these next two games and help the Maroons end the first round of UAAP Season 89 on top. Even if Pre has already spent a year with UP, he continues to find ways to grow and the process that began even from there could very well turn into the best version of himself this season and beyond.