The Maroon 5 era is over at UP. But in the clutch, the Fighting Maroons still have a familiar figure they can turn to.
Rey Remogat embraced that role in UP's first UAAP game without its Maroon 5 core, delivering when it mattered most to lead the Fighting Maroons past the UST Growling Tigers, 92-85, on Sunday.
Remogat scored eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, including back-to-back triples in the final three minutes that helped UP pull away from UST. He also had seven assists despite shooting just 3-of-13 from the field.
After struggling to find his rhythm early, Remogat found his stroke when UP needed it most, providing the stabilizing presence the new-look Fighting Maroons needed to open their UAAP Season 89 campaign with a win.
"I'm happy with how the game turned out, but we still have a lot to improve on as a team. We really need to get back to training," said Remogat, who is playing in his final year of eligibility.
Clutch plays used to be the domain of Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano and Terrence Fortea during UP's Maroon 5 era, alongside Janjan Felicilda and Reyland Torres.
Those players had been under UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde since their days with the NU Bullpups in high school. Bringing them to UP helped preserve a familiar winning culture that carried the Fighting Maroons to the top of the UAAP.
Before Remogat arrived in Diliman, it was JD Cagulangan who often took charge when games went down to the wire.
Now, the responsibility falls on Remogat.
With UP trying to reclaim the championship it lost in Season 88, the veteran guard will have to become the steady hand Monteverde can trust when the game is on the line.
Remogat endured a rusty start as the Growling Tigers matched him with bulky guard Donovan Sevilla, who kept him at bay for most of the game. UST also took a 48-44 lead into halftime, forcing UP to search for answers after an uneven first half.
But when UST eventually pulled Sevilla late in the fourth quarter, Remogat found an opening. He attacked rookie Kirk Canete's defense late, knocking down the shots that changed the complexion of the game and gave UP the separation it needed.
Francis Nnoruka led UP with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Migs Yniguez added 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting. Veejay Pre contributed seven points, five rebounds and four assists, while Arvie Poyos finished with eight points and five assists for the Fighting Maroons.
For Monteverde, however, Remogat's performance was only one part of a bigger transition.
"I think the experience we gain in every game will really matter," said Monteverde, who has won two of the last five UAAP championships.
The Maroon 5 may have moved on, but UP's winning culture has not disappeared with them.
And with Remogat taking the reins in the clutch, the Fighting Maroons may have found the stabilizer they need to begin building an identity of their own.
Just as he has done in the past five seasons, Monteverde sees the opening game as only a baseline. This UP team is still learning how to play together, establish its own identity and grow into the team it hopes to become when the stakes are highest.
"For me, having a team where we all know the players will eventually graduate, those former players will play a certain way. But this group, they really commit to work hard and work together. For me, of course, as we go along in the tournament, they will grow their own identity," he said.