MANILA, Philippines —Veejay Pre wants to stay at Far Eastern University, but according to FEU athletic director Mark Molina, the UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year is allegedly being pressured by his family to leave despite his pleas to remain.

According to Molina, Pre has expressed a deep desire to remain at FEU, despite strong pressure from his family—particularly his father—to transfer schools.

READ: UAAP: After top rookie award, Veejay Pre eyes Final 4 next for FEU

“The parents of Veejay, more particularly the father of Veejay, have been telling him to leave. The father has told him, don’t play 3×3, magpaalam ka,” Molina told reporters after FEU’s 2-0 win over Adamson in the UAAP Season 87 Esports Valorant.

“This was the time wala si coach Sean. So Veejay asked me to go to Pampanga and talk to his father because he cannot convince his father anymore. Veejay told us, I want to stay in FEU. Friends are here, this is my family, I am very happy here. I am being pressured to leave. Please help me. This was the message.”

FEU big man Veejay Pre reacts during a game against UST in UAAP Season 87.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Molina admitted that case was nothing like he’s seen before in 30 years of working in the UAAP with everyone in PRe’s family–including members of his extended family–allegedly pressuring the player.

“That’s where we are now. This is very unique,” Molina said. “Because a lot of times, although most of it, parents will initiate contacting another school. But eventually, the player himself gets convinced.”

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

Molina said he went to Pampanga with FEU basketball program director Denok Miranda and talked to Pre’s father, who said the family was was talking to other schools, but there are no concrete plans yet.

The school executive also said that Pre, one of the brightest spots in the FEU roster, is distraught about the pressure to switch schools and has “begged” the school for help to settle the matter with his family.

“I don’t know in the past month how many times I’ve talked to Veejay, crying, begging for help. To me, to coach Sean, to coach Denok, telling us if we can do something so that we can convince his family na huwag siyang paalisin sa FEU,” Molina said.

Molina said they allowed Pre to focus on the UAAP 3×3 men’s basketball competition held last week, where he believed that their player enjoyed representing the school.

But Pre’s father apparently told Molina that Veejay will be bidding FEU goodbye and the school hasn’t heard from the start forward since.

“Please help me. I’m being forced to leave and I don’t know what’s going to happen because I have great respect and love for my family and I don’t want to cause conflict within our family. But I don’t want to leave so please help me. That’s his last message,” Molina said.

“Simple lang naman. Kung gusto umalis ng tao, matagal na umalis. Bakit hindi siya umaalis? He’s of legal age. Mabait na nabata. Very obedient. Very respectful,” Molina said.  “But I cannot recall already kung ilang beses akong kinausap ni Veejay this past month to say over and over again that I do not want to leave FEU. My heart is there. My friends are all there. Konti na lang lalaban na tayo sa championship. And that’s been my dream ever since magchampion kami.”

Veejay has not spoken publicly on the matter as of posting.