ANDY Gemao’s high-wire act will stay in Intramuros.
Letran Squires coach Allen Ricardo doused rumors of his prized ward’s transfer to University of the Philippines after being spotted joining the Fighting Maroons in their Serbia training camp last month.
Ricardo insisted Gemao, after leading the Squires’ NCAA Season 98 title conquest, has committed to play two more years for Letran’s juniors team, culminating in the league’s 100th anniversary.
Gemao was virtually on loan to the Maroons under coach Goldwyn Monteverde and deputy Tom Chua, who both handled Gemao when they were together at National University-Nazareth School.
“Nag-usap naman kami. Syempre with coach Gold and coach Tom, hindi naman iba sa amin eh. Naniniwala ako na para sa ikabubuti pa rin ng bata yun,” Ricardo said. “Nagpaalam naman siya sa atin, sa management. I do believe makakatulong yun going to our season. Mas pabor yun kasi mahihinog si Andy.”
“Wala pa naman talagang commitment (sa UP),” he added. “Not necessarily na nakikita niyo si Andy kasama yung UP, eh dun na yung direction after two years. Hindi.”
The Maroons are not just the ones courting the high-leaping 6-foot combo guard from Iligan City.
Gemao, who turned only 17 last June 26, has attracted at least three US NCAA Division I schools that want to see if he’s ready for the US college scene, according to Ricardo.
READ: Squires coach believes Andy Gemao can soar in US NCAA Division I
“May mga kaibigan din tayo dun sa Division I, pero hindi ko lang din muna masasabi pa yung schools. Pero they want to see Andy sa workout,” Ricardo said. “Syempre they want to test the skill level, kung kaya mag-point guard.”
“Yun naman ang ginu-groom ko at tinutulong ko kay Andy,” the coach added of Gemao, who started with the Squires as a shooting guard. “I do believe he can do it.”
Ricardo will be the first to cheer for Gemao if he decides to go to the US in college and do what no homegrown Filipino has yet to do.
“Kung magiging maganda ang pag-uusap at nakikita namin na talagang matututukan, why not? Kung madi-division I si Andy, at mas hihinog pa dun, hindi natin masabi, baka ito si Andy Gemao yung pinaka-pure Pinoy na can go to NBA,” Ricardo concluded.
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