MANY thought that after Far Eastern University head coach Sean Chambers called on people to move on for the betterment of Veejay Pre, the noise created by the UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year’s transfer to the University of the Philippines would die down.

No siree.

When the Tamaraws downed University of Santo Tomas 72-63 in the Playtime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup last week and tied powerhouse La Salle on top of the UAAP side of the standings - while also moving half a game ahead of the Fighting Maroons - the collegiate basketball discussion boards again sizzled with State U targeted by bashers left and right.

PHOTO: Filoil Preseason Media

Good for Bo Perasol, the UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development director, he’s too busy to engage haters in nonsensical conversation. More than that, those in Diliman know that Pre’s sweet yes actually marked the start for work by the newest prize catch of the Fighting Maroons.

Of course, the men and women who matter in maroon-and-green will not necessarily divulge how they plan to make their new, shiny 6-foot-5 modern big 100-percent ready for Season 89 and mold him to be a complete and successful student-athlete who can face all challenges in pro leagues here or abroad at the end of his collegiate career.

However, we can guess how the big bosses can best work on Pre.

Just a few days after his transfer became official, the 19 year old played for one of two UP teams in the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup, scoring 12 points on top of five rebounds, one assist, and one block in 23 minutes while shooting 55 percent from the field. Not bad for a player who has yet to practice with his new teammates.

No one will be surprised if this early, coach Goldwin Monteverde will bring Pre along in all Fighting Maroons' foreign sojourns this preseason.

PHOTO: Filoil Preseason Media

This month, they will pitch training camp in Serbia, and in July, training camp No. 2 will then be in Korea where coach Gold and his wards will meet former UP players, as they play different KBL teams.

And finally, the reigning UAAP champions will participate in the World University Basketball Series 2025 in Japan from August 9 to 11, as they and the Green Archers are the two Philippine representatives to this year’s tourney.

The trips are primarily to get the Season 88 team ready. But Monteverde and his staff may like to see how Pre can play in unfamiliar surroundings and situations, aside from gauging how he can go up against much heftier and more experienced opponents.

If the UP coaches decide to just bring Pre, but not use him in games, he can just join in practices, enjoy the sights in new places, and see how his new team trains in preseason up close.

A couple of months before Francis Lopez was signed by Fighting Eagles Nagoya in the Japan B.League, he went through month-long training in the U.S.

What if during the sem break or Christmas break, Pre can be sent to a similar training site? This should be a big help in his development and confidence.

And while undergoing their residency, Pre and the other new Fighting Maroons must get into the flow of the UP Fight, too.

UP coaches must make Pre, James Payosing, Rain Maga, Arvie Poyos, and Russel Ogana play games - the more competitive, the better. They can accept all invites from provinces, from single-game exhibition games to pocket tournaments.

Don’t forget that Pre is a student-athlete. Let him enjoy the vast, spacious, green Diliman campus. Expect his academic advisers and tutors to do their thing to make sure Pre will receive something many would like to get – UP education.

And in the end, Fighting Maroons' brass and the entire community hope that in his heart, Pre will feel that he made the right choice. And that haters are silenced.

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