Chambers: No hard feelings over Predeparture
There’s no bad blood between Veejay Pre and the school he abandoned as far as Far Easter University (FEU) coach Sean Chambers is concerned.
“It’s a very unique situation. We love him and he’s a kid and I think as the adult, eventually, we need to stop talking about it and let him just go about his way,” Chambers said a day after his prized forward announced his departure from the Morayta-based crew.
Pre, who was hailed Rookie of the Year in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, confirmed the rumor that has been going for months now after making his decision known at exactly 12 midnight on Wednesday.
“I believe that leaving and saying ‘goodbye’ is never easy and accepting things is the most painful part,” Pre stated in a social media post. “I’ve chosen to heed [my family’s] wisdom and concerns … they only want the best for me and I can’t deny that taking this big step forward has been the hardest decision ever.”
The school’s homegrown talent was poised to be among the ones who will bring the Tamaraws back to the top along with holdovers Janrey Pasaol, Jedric Daa and Jorick Bautista.
In his rookie year, Pre helped FEU to a 5-9 finish that included close games against the top teams by averaging 13.2 points, seven rebounds and 1.3 assists.
“A lot of adults are making decisions for the kid and he’s stuck in the middle,” Chambers said after the Tamaraws dominated University of the East, 74-57, for their opening game win in the Filoil EcoOil 18th Preseason Cup.
“I think this is the first time ever I’ve seen a situation where a kid loves his university, his teammates, his coaches but he has to make a decision for the best of the family,” Chambers added. “And I am one of those who believe that as families, we always have to make the right decision.”
But the former Alaska import still has a lot of talented pieces left in his roster, especially among his guards.
Bautista spearheaded the Tamaraws with 18 points, Daa scored 14 on top of five rebounds and Luke Felipe added 10. Big men Mohammad Konateh and Aaron Bagunu chipped in 15 and eight rebounds, respectively.
“The goal was, when I first came to FEU, the job was to have the talent and make the talent better and so that’s what we’re willing to continue to do with whoever is in the building,” Chambers said.
