Rey Remogat has finally put on a UP uniform, giving us an early preview of his fit under Goldwin Monteverde’s Fighting Maroons.
A month after their second-straight UAAP finals heartbreak, the UP Fighting Maroons received a major boost in Rey Remogat. At the time, Remogat was coming off a Mythical Five selection as a UE Red Warrior, averaging 16.5 points, 7.9 assists, and 6.4 rebounds.
And on Saturday, April 6, Remogat finally made his UP debut, being part of their PinoyLiga Collegiate Cup Season 3 lineup. Understandably, it was a quiet outing for Remogat, given that almost all players fielded only played about 12-14 minutes, save for Gerry Abadiano and Reyland Torres.
In 11 and a half minutes, Remogat finished off the bench with three points and two assists. Regardless, he was overjoyed to finally wear the UP jersey, his first in a league setting.
“Sobrang saya ako. Kumbaga, nung Thursday [April 4] binigay sakin ‘to [his jersey], sinuot ko agad eh! Kahit amoy bago pa. So excited ako suotin ko, sinuot ko agad then sa laro, sobra akong excited suotin ‘yung jersey ng UP, ma-represent ‘yung UP,” Remogat enthusiastically told The GAME after UP’s 88-46 blowout over San Beda in their PinoyLiga Collegiate Cup Season 3 opener.
And his teammates are just as happy that he’s a Fighting Maroon. Early on, it was evident that Rey Remogat had already warmed up to his new team, being all smiles, and joining in to hype whoever was playing on the floor.
“Ako, personally sobrang saya ko talaga e. Natutuwa ako sa mga teammate ko. Kahit na bago lang ako, kumbaga kung paano nila ako winelcome, tratuhin, parang matagal na rin nila akong kasama so ‘yun. Blessed lang na ganun ‘yung mga teammate ko ngayon, then ‘yung team na kung nasan ako,” he said.
‘9 out of 10’
Despite his quiet outing, Rey Remogat would rate his debut a “9 out of 10”. For one, he cited his one turnover, alongside still learning Goldwin Monteverde’s system, and his teammates’ strengths.
But based on his debut alone, Remogat is confident he fits that said system. While no longer a focal point, he believes UP still allows him to do what he’s done as a UE Red Warrior.
“Kaso nga lang, mas kailangan ko mag ingat ngayon kasi alam mo ‘yun? Nasa team ako na parang lahat kaya gawin ‘yung mga ginagawa ko before eh, so dapat maging mas maingat ako sa pagbigay ng bola para less turnover, makakapaglaro ako nang mas maigi,” he said.
A notable observation in Rey Remogat’s debut was his facilitation. The whole time he was on the floor, the former UE stud looked more of a traditional point. Less on trying to score, and more on trying to make the right passes.
In fact, his two dimes directly led into highlights. His first assist led to a Sean Alter dunk midway into the fourth, while his second was a no-look pass to a cutting Chicco Briones.
For Remogat, this is a reflection of his flexibility as a guard, noting: “Minsan kasi inaano ko ‘yung rhythym ng laro ko eh. Kung this day ba, more on passing ako…itutuloy ko. Kung more on scoring naman ko, itutuloy ko rin naman kung ano ‘yung gumagana sakin.”
So come UAAP Season 88, fans shouldn’t only expect Rey Remogat the scorer, or just Rey Remogat the playmaker. Besides feeling out his game, Remogat himself admits that he’s content to do what his team or the system requires from him.
“Kung di man sakin mapunta ‘yung bola at the last second sa system namin, okay lang. Ang mahalaga naman nandon ka sa court eh, nagagawa mo ‘yung dapat ipagawa ni coach, nabibigay mo ‘yung best mo.”
On their system
Rey Remogat also shared to The GAME his observations on Monteverde’s system. Initially, he admitted being overwhelmed, given the high intensity in practice alone.
In his words, Remogat described UP’s training alone as “talagang pukpukan na. Kumbaga ‘yung mga player kala mo mga manok na nagsasabong,” he added.
Eventually, the Caviteño was able to adjust both physically and mentally. It also helped that Monteverde assures his players that it’s fine to feel tired, and what’s important is they don’t give up.
“Kasi marami namang [player]…maglaro ka ng five minutes, bigay mo ‘yung best mo, wag ka matakot mapagod, may papalit naman sayo na as good as you eh. Yun ‘yung laging sinasabi samin ni coach Gold,” Remogat bared.
In-game, he shared that as an opposing player, Monteverde’s system was “unpredictable”. Meaning, if you’ve noted one of Monteverde’s plays, chances are he’s already scrapped that from his playbook.
As a Fighting Maroon, though, he reiterated that he’s still in that learning phase. Remaining vague, he only described their system as “maganda”, and way different from what he was used to.
“Ibang iba kasi talaga ‘yung sa system before kesa ngayon, so para sakin lang, sa nakikita ko sa practice namin, and then sa mga game, syempre mas gusto ko ‘yung gantong system. Gantong playstyle,” Remogat explained.
Long wait
Outside PinoyLiga Collegiate Cup, Rey Remogat is bound for a year-long residency within State U. But now that he’s played with them, he’s found early impressions of his strengths and weaknesses as a Fighting Maroon.
“Siguro dapat ko lang pagtuunan ng pansin ‘yung defensive side. Medyo dun pa ako nalilito eh, ‘yung mga weakside help, mga strong side, dun pa ako nalilito. Kasi iba ‘yung nakasanayan ko before sa ngayon eh. So ‘yun ‘yung dapat ko siguro i-adjust,” Remogat explained.
“And ‘yung nakikita ko naman na strength ko, is kung paano ako mag-adjust sa laro. Kumbaga kung kaya kong pumasa, papasa ako. Kung kaya ko umiscore, iiscore ako. Kumbaga ‘yung nakikita kong strength ko, marunong ako mag-adjust sa kateammate ko,” he added.
For the rest of PinoyLiga and UP’s preseason, Remogat assured he’ll gradually become a more matured point guard and with polished decision-making as their playmaker.
And of course, he’ll also get to play with his kuyas, namely JD Cagulangan, Gerry Abadiano, and Terrence Fortea. While he still hopes to share the court with the graduating Cagulangan, Remogat had already been with Abadiano in his debut.
“Masarap kasi [sila kalaro] hindi ka masyadong mape-pressure eh. Before kasi lahat ng tutok ng depensa nasakin kasi eh. Ngayon parang ‘di masyadong mapapagod, ‘di ka masyadong mape-pressure, alam mo ‘yun? Kasi marami nang tao pwede magbigay ng ano [opensa] eh.”
Banner Image by RJ Ballecer.
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