Rey Remogat Chose UP Over Pro Offers. Here’s Why.

The chance to play professionally is often difficult to turn down.  When the opportunity finally comes, the next step often feels obvious. 

But for UP Fighting Maroons guard Rey Remogat the decision wasn’t as straightforward. Offers to play professionally, both locally and internationally, were already on the table. Even though a lot of people may say that you shouldn’t let opportunities pass and the easier decision may have been to leave but instead, he chose to stay.

“Meron ng offer lang. Mas pinili ko mag-stay kasi gusto ko talagang mag-champion. Pero dumating naman ako sa point na napag-isipan dahil di naman din biro yung meron na offer doon.”

Choosing UP Over the Pros

Although he couldn’t reveal where the offers came from, he confirmed that opportunities existed both in the Philippines and overseas. Still, the thought of leaving UP without accomplishing what he came for continued to linger.

“So, for me talaga mas nangibabaw lang yung gusto kong makabawi. And gusto kong may maiwang legacy dito sa UP.”

That decision wasn’t made overnight.

Rather than relying solely on his own thoughts, Remogat sought advice from the people he trusted most. He listened to his coaches, leaned on his family, and carefully weighed every option before deciding to return for one final season.

“Humingi ako ng guidance sa mga coaches dito kung ano yung mga dapat kong gawin. Kasi di lang naman sapat kung ano yung maisip ko. Gusto ko rin marinig kung ano yung advice ng mga coaches na may mga experience na talaga. Siyempre, sa magulang ko, pamilya ko. Tinimbang ko lang lahat.”

After considering everything, one goal outweighed the rest.

“Siguro mas nangibabaw lang talaga yung gusto kong mag-stay. And one of the reason na rin talaga, gusto kong makabawi. Gusto kong mag-champion.”

One Goal Left to Achieve

That unfinished business traces back to last season.

After falling short of a UAAP championship, the disappointment stayed with the team. There wasn’t an easy way to move on from the loss, but Remogat believes they found a better way to respond—by using it as motivation instead of letting it define them.

“Unang-una, siyempre, masakit. Wala namang parang naging paraan para maging okay kami. Siguro, yung goal lang namin talaga ngayon is makabawi and mag-move on. Kasi kung isipin pa namin yun, parang wala namang sense. Pero kung gagawin namin motivation yun, sobrang laking bagay sa team namin yun na maging motivation namin throughout this year para makuha yung championship this season.”

That mindset became the team’s foundation as soon as preparations began again.

From the very first practices in January, Remogat made sure everyone understood what they were working toward. There was no need for different goals or personal milestones. Everything pointed to one objective.

“Wala namang ibang goal kundi mag-champion talaga eh. Pagkabalik na pagkabalik namin ngayong January, yun agad yung in-insist ko sa team. Sabi ko sa kanila na masakit matalo at sana hindi niyo maramdaman yun. And sa way na hindi niyo mararamdaman yun, kailangan natin mag-champion.”

The same mentality carries over to the team’s campaign in the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL).

The tournament isn’t simply another preseason competition or an opportunity to gain experience overseas. It’s another chance to develop the habits and mentality they hope will carry into the UAAP season.

“Yung goal namin siyempre manalo and makuha yung championship. Alam naman natin na hindi naman lahat ng team nabibigyan ng ganitong opportunity. So wala naman ibang ibibigay yung best namin para makuha yung championship. Hindi lang para magpunta roon, maglaro. Pupunta kami roon para manalo rin, mag-champion.”

Playing against unfamiliar teams on unfamiliar courts doesn’t bother him either.

Pressure, he believes, is something every athlete experiences. What matters is how they respond to it.

“Wala naman. Siguro yung pressure kasi nandiyan lang yun. Kung paano mo lang i-handle. Kailangan ko lang din i-handle ng tama yun. Pero kung pressure naman na parang dahil iba mga kalaban, wala naman.”

Leading Through Discipline

As one of the older players on the roster, Remogat also understands that leadership extends beyond scoring points or making big plays.

The message he continues to remind his teammates about isn’t necessarily confidence or motivation.

It’s discipline.

“Siguro yung pagiging disiplinado kasi madaling gawin yung isang bagay nang motivated ka eh. Pero mahirap maging disiplinado pag dumating yung araw na ayaw mo gawin yung mga bagay.”

For him, discipline is what keeps a team moving toward its goals long after motivation fades.

“So iniinsist ko lang na maging disiplinado sila on and off the court talaga para at least yung goal namin makuha namin this season.”

The Future Can Wait

What happens after his final UAAP season can wait.

Remogat admitted that, if given the opportunity in the future, playing overseas would naturally be an attractive option because of the growth it could offer.

“Siguro, no brainer naman yun. Siyempre international yung pipiliin dahil yung opportunity na pwede mong makuha rin. Siyempre iba rin yung growth na pwede mong makuha.”

But those decisions aren’t today’s priority.

For now, the professional offers remain exactly where they are, waiting.

Because before thinking about what’s next, Rey Remogat has one last goal to accomplish in maroon.

He came back for one more year not because he had to. He came back because he believes there’s still one chapter left to write, one that ends with a championship and the legacy he hopes to leave behind at UP.

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