By MARK REY MONTEJO
After all the rumors circulating in the past weeks, rising collegiate basketball star Veejay Pre spilled the truth that he wants to stay as a member of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
However, FEU athletic director Mark Molina revealed one problem.
According to Molina, the 19-year-old Pre was allegedly being pressured by his loved ones, particularly his father who is forcing him to leave the school and transfer to a new one.
“This has been going on for more than a month already, rumors, social media, whatever, a lot of reports that Veejay is leaving,” said Molina moments after FEU’s 2-0 triumph over Adamson in the UAAP Esports Valorant tournament.
“This is what we know and these are the facts, more than a month na siguro since the parents of Veejay, more particularly the father of Veejay has been telling him… ‘don’t play 3×3 magpaalam kana,’” he bared.
“The family of Veejay, father and mom, at least for the last two or three weeks, gusto na siyang umalis, pero ayaw umalis ni Veejay,” Molina continued. “That’s where we are now.”
The Floridablanca, Pampanga native did his part of trying to convince his dad of staying as a Tamaraw.
But everything allegedly fell on deaf ears.
The 6-foot-5 forward then suited up for FEU in the 3×3 event but was not in his best shape due to lack of sleep and emotional stress, according to his teammates Jed Daa and Janrey Pasaol.
Despite reaching out to the family, Molina still couldn’t get a clear answer on Pre’s commitment for the next season.
Pre, the Season 87 Rookie of the Year, was a key contributor for FEU as he averaged 13.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in the eliminations before they ended up as sixth place with a 5-9 card in the standings.
“Whatever it is, we will support Veejay and we know he’s very loyal to FEU. Napakabait na bata, he doesn’t deserve what’s happening to him right now,” Molina concluded. “And as long as he wants to be here, we will do everything we can to help him.”
