Rey Remogat’s three-point eruption paved the way for the University of the Philippines’ (UP) Fighting Maroons to finally enter the win column in the UAAP Season 88 since the country’s premier collegiate tournament opened a week ago. 

After struggling in the past two games, Remogat hit six three pointers for a 46.2% shooting to fuel UP’s rousing victory over the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 92-75, last Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The UP guard redeemed himself in his first game against his former team, the Red Warriors, scoring a game-high 21 points and 11 assists for a double-double performance. He pulled down seven rebounds. 

“Nilagay ko sa utak ko na hindi ko kailangan i-please yung ibang tao. Kailangan kong gawin kung ano yung makakatulong sa team,” he said in the post-game press conference.

His mental fortitude helped him bounce back from a scoring slump, even going for naught in UP’s loss against Adamson, 59-62, in its previous game. Against UE, he started off with guns blazing and unloaded 10 points in the first quarter. 

Remogat built off three baskets from beyond the arc, including a four-point play, to give UP a 27-20 lead. More threes rained in the second frame as he drained two more to end the first half with 18 points as the Maroons pulled away with a 17-point lead.

The player of the game, however, credited not only his own growth but also the team for their ability to learn from their early struggles. The Katipunan-based squad improved its passing and rotated the ball more frequently, resulting in a season-high 27 assists. 

Four of the assists resulted in Remogat’s three pointers that pushed the momentum for UP.

Halftime adjustments

UE tried to shake things up in the second half by focusing its defensive efforts on containing Remogat’s scoring, but the 21-year-old point guard was quick to adjust. He transitioned into a tactical playmaker after the break as he dished eight assists in the second half alone.

When the Red Warriors tried to limit the three pointers, the Fighting Maroons fed their big men inside the paint. UP power forward Gani Stevens scored all 14 markers in the second half, nine of them in the third quarter alone.

Remogat was dropping dimes near the rim, including an outlet pass leading to a Francis Nnoruka slam early in the fourth that ignited an 11-3 run to give UP its biggest lead at 28.

The shift in the Maroons’ offense paved the way for their twin towers’ best game yet. Nnoruka and Stevens chipped in identical double-doubles with 14 points and 10 rebounds apiece.

The defending champions will be looking to ride on the momentum as they face off the undefeated National University Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.