WITH availability problems hounding the Gilas Pilipinas team to the Southeast Asian Games, coach Norman Black is fortunate to be able to bring in Veejay Pre.
Currently undergoing residency with University of the Philippines following his transfer from Far Eastern University, Pre became perhaps the most surprising pick-up from the eight players who have committed to join Gilas in the biennial conclave.
READ Black lists 8 players committed to play for Gilas at SEA Games
Black remains in touch with the college game being the consultant of San Beda, so he knows Pre can play.
“I’m still with San Beda. We still play college basketball. I watch all the games. I go to all the scrimmages. We actually played FEU a couple of times and I saw him live. I was still right on the court when he was playing. I was quite impressed with him,” said Black.
Pre is set for his national team debut after coming close to being part of the youth team to the FIBA U16 Asia Championship in Qatar in 2022.
Black noted Pre's ability to play multiple positions, which became one of the deciding factors in giving the 19-year-old a maiden national team call-up.
“Considering that he’s still a young kid and he hasn’t really gotten that much experience, I thought he was a very good player. He is about 6-foot-5, so he’s not a small guy. He is a big guy, but he handles the ball really, really well.
"He can improve his outside shooting but at the same time, even me, I could have improved my outside shooting too,” said Black.
As they say, availability is the best ability, and it is exactly the case with Pre.
“Right now, he is on break because he’s transferring from FEU to UP, which opens the door for us to be able to recruit him because he’s actually available. And right now, that’s been my biggest challenge, getting guys available to be able to play so he is a welcome addition to the team,” Black added.
Black still needs four players to complete the roster, and he is looking at adding college players to beef up the team that will be led by Justin Brownlee. And it looks like Pre will be the only player under residency to join the Gilas squad.
“I can’t pick everybody under residency. I need to get some quality. When I say quality, I mean guys who have experience and the talent to be able to compete at this level,” said Black.
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