WHOSE voice matters more: the player or the parents?

That is shaping up to be the biggest question regarding Veejay Pre's status in Far Eastern University.

The 6-foot-5 burly big last attended practice on Monday before he was fetched by his family to go back to Pampanga. His family said he was going to return, but when Wednesday came, he was not with his family, as they went back to the green-and-gold's Diliman campus to talk to school officials.

"Kinausap naman namin sila, pero ang sabi lang is aalis na si Veejay sa FEU. Hindi na daw nila sinama yung bata kasi gulong-gulo na yung isip," said athletic director Mark Molina of their prized player who was hailed as UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year.

PHOTO: UAAP Media Bureau

For a month now, at least two UAAP teams have been making a play to pry Pre away from the Tamaraws camp - and understandably so, as a transfer would arm the program he chooses of a certified game-changer.

However, the decision is not solely his.

Discussions between these suitors and the 19 year old have continued with the promise of providing greener pastures for the player's holistic basketball development.

For Molina, however, Pre is still a Tamaraw as far as FEU is concerned,

"Until Veejay tells us that he's leaving, he's still a part of the team. No matter what happens, Veejay knows we'll always support him," he said.

Molina said that these rumors are nothing new to them, with those in Pre's camp imploring him to bid his longtime alma mater goodbye as early as the Holy Week and didn't even want him to play for the men's team in the UAAP 3x3 tournament.

"Parang sinabihan pa siya na last na niya yun," the amiable school official said.

PHOTO: UAAP Media Bureau

Throughout this ordeal, Pre has sought help from Molina, head coach Sean Chambers, and basketball program director Denok Miranda to intervene and seek discussions with his parents.

"Paulit-ulit sa amin si Veejay na nakikiusap kasi ayaw talaga niyang umalis. Gusto niyang makausap namin yung parents niya," he said.

And that's where we are now, with Molina and fellow school insiders still holding out hope that Pre's voice would prevail considering that the pride of Floridablanca has repeatedly expressed his intention to stay in green-and-gold.

After all, the Baby Tamaraw-turned-Tamaraw has been vocal and was even the one to divulge these "poaching offers" to school officials, updating them on those reaching out to their camp and paying his parents a visit in their home.

"Ngayon lang ako naka-encounter nang ganito kasi kilala natin si Veejay, napakabait na bata niyan at ramdam din ng mga teammates niya yung pinagdadaanan niya. Mahal niya yung FEU at yung mga teammates at kaibigan niyang matalik kaya imagine mo na lang gaano kahirap sa kanya yung ganitong sitwasyon," Molina said.

If Pre indeed moves on to another UAAP school, he will redshirt the oncoming season and lose two playing years, leaving him with only two eligible seasons - if he doesn't attract offers overseas and elsewhere

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