THIS year’s UAAP Season 88 finals may have been the third consecutive time that the University of the Philippines and La Salle have faced each other, but this is also the year with the most newcomers for each team.
On State U’s end, the most notable newcomer is certainly Noy Remogat.
Though Remogat certainly had his fair share of accolades, being a former mythical five member and MVP runner-up back in the University of the East, he’s fairly new to the bright lights of the playoffs in the seniors level.
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And now that he is part of the Fighting Maroons’ quest for back-to-back titles, the stage is set for the guard from Quezon City to prove that he can thrive in championship-level basketball as well, despite being part of one in high school six years ago.
“Season 82 kasi FEU ako noon,” Remogat recalled. “Kalaban ko sila Terrence [Fortea], sila Carl [Tamayo], sila Kevin [Quiambao] noon eh, sa juniors.”
“Pero yun nga, hindi naman ako gamit doon. Kahit isang minuto hindi ata ako na gamit doon.”
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Remogat was a key rotation piece during that Baby Tamaraws run to the finals, but with teammates like Patrick Sleat, Cholo Añonuevo, Janrey Pasaol, and Jorick Bautista, Remogat didn’t sniff a minute of playing time in the finals.
And while his former peers in Diliman, like Sleat and Penny Estacio, eventually found postseason success elsewhere, Remogat took a while to return to the Final Four.
Now his time finally came.
“Siguro sobrang saya lang na ngayon, nasa big stage na ako, nasa kumbaga best team pa," Remogat said.
"So sobrang ganda lang naging plana sa akin ni Lord niyo na from nothing to something talaga eh. Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam.”
Momentum is on your side, UP
With the finals already in full swing, Remogat and crew have booked themselves a ticket to yet another game three grudge match with the Archers after clinching a narrow 66-63 victory last Sunday.
And while he’s looked a lot better in Game 2 after dropping 12 points on four triples following a horror Game 1, Remogat admits there’s constant pressure being in the biggest stage.
But that doesn’t give him the excuse to not play up to his level.
“Kahit sino naman yung tao, normal yung kabahan eh. Kung baga, nasa kung paano mo lang yun labanan,” he said.
“So ako, handle ko lang ng tama. Ilalabang ko yung sarili ko yung team namin.”
The pressure certainly jolted the Maroons, especially after losing game one, something they haven’t experienced before.
But the Fighting Maroons handled their business in Game 2, and now, with the title within reach, Remogat vows to go all out.
“Alam mo yun, yung pinipipray mo lang before parang abot kamay mo eh. Pero syempre yun nga, trabahuin kung ano yung dapat trabahuin eh.”
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