FEU’s Veejay Pre contests La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao’s shot during a game in the UAAP Season 87 second round.–UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern University rookie Veejay Pre is honored to have faced his idol and La Salle MVP Kevin Quiambao for the last time in the elimination round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.

Pre outplayed his idol with 12 points and five rebounds but Quiambao got the win despite struggling with eight points on 2-of-17 shooting to go with 13 rebounds as the twice-to-beat La Salle completed a fourth-quarter comeback against FEU, 58-53, on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

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Quiambao, who hardly saw action in the fourth, was all praise on Pre for being a strong candidate for the Rookie of the Year plum, which he won two years ago. 

READ: UAAP: La Salle survives, deals big blow to FEU’s Final Four bid

“The future is bright para sa UAAP. Si Veejay naguusap na kami bago pa magstart yung UAAP. Sinasabihan ko siya na tuloy mo lang, gawin mo lang yung ginagawa mo and credit sa kanya. Sobrang trinabaho niya ito. Deserved niya kung anong nakukuha niya ngayon,” said Quiambao, who is on pace to win his second straight MVP plum this year.

The FEU forward, who tallied his career-high 31 points a day after Quiambao scored 33, relished his learnings from his idol.

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“Siyempre, masaya kasi last na namin na paghaharap this season. Napakarami kong natutunan sa kanya. Masaya ko kasi many times na challenge ko siya na hindi siya nakaka-shoot,” said Pre.

The 19-year-old Pre recalled that he had a chance to team up with Quiambao in a recreational league, where he didn’t play but he had a moment to remember with his idol.

READ: UAAP: Rookie Veejay Pre ‘can do so much more,’ says FEU coach

“Before the season, sabi niya sa’kin na good luck, mag-enjoy ka lang and ilaro mo lang yung laro mo.  After ko mag juniors, nakakampi ko siya sa ligang labas kahit hindi ako pinasok, talagang na-inspire talaga ako sa kanya,” Pre said.

As a frontrunner for the top rookie award, is Pre looking to follow the footsteps of Quiambao, who won an MVP the season after being named the Rookie of the Year.

All the young Tamaraw wants is to bring back the success of FEU, which has been missing the Final Four in the past two seasons.

“Kahit hindi naman po basta nananalo lang at makabalik kami sa Final Four, yun lang po talaga yung goal ko,” he said.