Before Their Duel, Pre and Llemit Shared the Same Jersey

Veejay Pre and Mark Llemit spent 50 minutes trying to beat each other in one of the UAAP season’s most gripping games. Before that, they had spent an offseason learning what it was like to play on the same side.

The two combined for 63 points as the University of the Philippines survived the University of Santo Tomas, 103–101, in double overtime to open the second round of the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on October 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Pre, UP’s 6-foot-5 forward, finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds, scoring all seven of the Fighting Maroons’ points in the second overtime. Their fourth consecutive victory lifted them to solo first place at 6–2. Llemit countered with a career-high 33 points, but UST slipped to 4–4 after its two-game winning streak ended.

Behind the scoring duel was a friendship strengthened on a different court.

Teammates in Davao

During the offseason in early 2025, Pre and Llemit teamed up in a local league in Davao. Away from their respective UAAP teams, they got to know each other as teammates and friends.

“Actually, way back early 2025, nagsama kami ni Mark nung naglaro kami sa Davao eh, so ano kami niyan eh, kaibigan kami, magkakilala,” Pre said.

“Masaya ako na nakalaro ko siya. Pero ayun, ano kami sa competitiveness, kami sa love ng court, pero sa ano niyan, magkaibigan kami ni Mark. Masaya kasama, masaya at makulit.”

Llemit remembered the conversations and the energy Pre brought to their time together.

“Sobrang saya. Lalo na sa kuwentuhan, sabay kami. Yung mga ibang-ibang gagawin. Sobrang saya niyang kausap, lalo na pag sa game. Sobrang ganado ka rin na iba-iba yung pagdating sa game din.”

Watching each other grow

Their familiarity dates back to 2023, when they competed against each other in the high school ranks. Since then, both have watched the other develop into a player capable of taking on greater responsibility at the collegiate level.

For Pre, Llemit’s growth has been especially evident in his transition from playing power forward in high school to handling more responsibilities on the perimeter.

“Si Mark ang laki ng in-improve niya nung simula nung high school kami. Actually, 4 (power forward) si Mark nung high school, pero sobrang laki ng in-improve niya kasi nakikita ko naman natin ang trabaho niya and kudos din sa kanya ngayon,” Pre said.

Llemit, in turn, pointed to the range of contributions Pre now makes beyond scoring.

“Sobrang laki ng improvement niya, lalo na ngayon. Parang sobrang all-around player siya. Rebound, assist, lahat-lahat. And sobrang laki ng pagbabago and yung pag-improve niya.”

That development was on display throughout their latest meeting. Alongside his 30 points and 16 rebounds, Pre contributed four steals, three assists, and a block in more than 42 minutes of action.

Fifty minutes against a friend

But carrying that responsibility through two overtime periods required more than an expanded skill set. Both players had to find ways to stay composed as the game stretched beyond regulation.

For Pre, the experience was unfamiliar: he said it was the first double-overtime game of his career.

“Actually ito talaga yung first time ko,” he said.

He credited his confidence to his preparation, including the work he puts in with his coaches and Coach Pat at Better Basketball.

“Para sa akin, ginagawa ko lang yung mga pinapagawa ng coaches at saka ako doon kay Coach Pat sa Better (Better Basketball). So yung nag-pregame sa akin, every message ko lang sa kanya, pinupunta niya ako to be better. Ayun, doon ko napra-practice yung mga game shots ko. Kaya tiwala din ako.”

Llemit had already experienced an even longer contest. He scored seven points in UST’s 98–89 triple-overtime victory over Ateneo in October 2025, when Nic Cabañero, Forthsky Padrigao, Collins Akowe, and Gelo Crisostomo led the Tigers’ offense. This time, he was at the center of UST’s scoring effort.

The opportunity to face UP, a finalist the previous season, gave him added motivation.

“Against UP, kasi sila din yung nag-finals last year. Nakagana din maglaro kasi sila yung top 1 sa standing ngayon. Sayang lang kasi kinapos lang kami as a team.”

“Kanina, parang before kasi game, parang iniisip ko na masarap din silang kalabanin. Lalo na sila yung nag-finals last year eh. Yun nakakadagdag din ng kumpiyansa, nakakapag-motivate din.”

UST came close to turning that motivation into a victory. The Tigers held a 96–89 lead in the first overtime before UP rallied to force another extension, setting up Pre’s decisive final stretch.

For Llemit, competing against his friend also meant dealing with the physical challenges that make Pre a difficult matchup.

“May mga struggles din naman talaga kasi yun nga, VJ, iba yung ano niya eh. Parang sobrang tangkad din niya kasi eh. Nakaka-challenge din yung ganun eh,” Llemit said.

Pre was just as aware of the problems Llemit posed for UP. Afterward, he credited Jacob Bayla and the Maroons’ late defensive effort for helping them survive his friend’s career night.

“Kanina, first quarter pa lang talaga, umi-score na siya. Kudos din kay Jacob (Bayla) na binantayan niya; kinontain niya nung last part. Ayun, buti na maganda defense namin, and naka-secure namin yung panalo,” Pre said.