University of the Philippines forward Veejay Pre in the 19th FilOil Preseason Cup. Handout photo/FilOil Preseason Media.MANILA — Twice champions in the last five years, University of the Philippines seeks redemption once more as it enters the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament.
It will be a fresh start for head coach Goldwin Monteverde’s Fighting Maroons, who will be led by prized recruit Veejay Pre as they seek to recover from their Finals loss to modern-day rival De La Salle University last year.
READ: Pre preaches patience as he adjusts to UP’s system — ‘Step by step lang’
State U’s quest for another title and a sixth straight Finals appearance, however, will be different this season as it will be the first time that the Maroons will do it under Monteverde’s tutelage without Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Reyland Torres, Janjan Felicilda, and Terrence Fortea, who are now in the professional ranks.
But even without its famed “Maroon 5,” UP deputy Christian Luanzon is confident that the winning culture built by their previous core still runs deep in the program.
“Any coach will say life has to move on. But in this case, in our situation, si Coach Gold yung nag-recruit sa kanila since high school,” said Luanzon. “But then again, that’s life.
“Now, we have these new players. It’s a good group, and they are just trying to do the same. Yung goal din namin, our commitment to UP, is to bring out the best in them and hopefully perform at the highest level, which is in the Final Four and the Finals,” he added.
Headlining the Maroons’ new group is Pre, who was previously hailed as Rookie of the Year in UAAP Season 87 during his time with Far Eastern University.
The 6-foot-5, do-it-all forward is now tasked to spearhead the Maroons’ bid for glory, and Luanzon is excited about how Pre could further elevate UP’s ceiling.
“He's obviously an established player,” Luanzon said. “Napakabait na bata, very hardworking, always has an open mind. Hindi lang sa coaches, but sa mga kasama niya. ‘Pag pinagsasabihan siya, he's always all ears, always looking for room to grow.”
READ: Veejay Pre officially transfers to UP after FEU exit
READ: How UP's recruitment of Veejay Pre played out
Pre, however, was quick to downplay the praises, saying that it would still take time before they could play as close to the level expected of them.
“Wag ko dapat madaliin. Step by step lang,” he stressed, before sharing what aspects of his game he has also developed. “Laro lang dapat ako nang walang iniisip. And natuto na rin akong dumepensa, yun ang natutunan ko sa UP. So hopefully, makuha ko yung tiwala nila.”
VETERAN LEADERSHIP
Aside from Pre, also set to suit up for UP are NCAA Season 99 Finals MVP James Payosing from San Beda University, former University of the East guard Rain Maga, and new foreign student-athlete (FSA) Dieonte Miles, while young guns Sean Franco and Irish Coquia will also finally be in the mix.
For Luanzon, this is where veterans Noy Remogat, Gani Stevens, Jacob Bayla, and Francis Nnoruka will be crucial.
University of the Philippines in the 19th FilOil Preseason Cup. Handout photo/FilOil Preseason Media.“Lahat ng players naman, importante lang, willing to listen at the same time,” said Luanzon. “Willing din [yung veterans] i-guide yung iba.”
The Maroons have also had plenty of time to build that connection, with the team making trips to Korea and Canada for training camps while also competing in the 2026 Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) in China.
“We were out of the country for almost three weeks,” Luanzon shared. “And what always helps is yung bonding ng team. When you're outside of Philippine soil, yung roommate, magkakasama sa kwarto.”
“Hindi ka tulad pag nandito, after practice, papasok na sila sa klase. Marami naman sa kanila magkakaklase. Ibang-iba pag nasa ibang bansa eh. Mas nagkakaroon, mas nabi-build yung chemistry. Kaya every year, part talaga ng program namin yan,” he added.
However, while these preparations may paint UP as primed for redemption, Luanzon said that nothing is set in stone until the trophy is hoisted.
“Remains yet to be seen,” he emphasized. “How many teams have we seen whether in the NBA, PBA or any school team? Ang ganda tignan sa papel. Pagdating sa dulo, hinahakapos.”
For Luanzon, then, the bigger question is not simply how well UP has prepared for another title run, but if its new group can carry the same hunger that has defined the program.
Regardless if it was their “Maroon 5” or their present core led by Pre, Luanzon sees this as the common denominator that has turned UP into one of the UAAP’s top programs in recent years.
“Every season may gigil,” he emphasized. “Even if we didn't make the Finals or win a championship a few seasons back, every season presents its own challenges. And it's really one of the exciting parts of our job as coaches, and I'm sure especially for the players, because they can only exhaust five playing years to the max. So, every year mas gigil yan.”
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