UNIVERSITY of the East is loading up for the upcoming UAAP Season 89, adding formidable rookies to its roster.
Guards Jheremy Godoy, Xyrus Gemao, and homegrown Louie Bual banner the new batch of Red Warriors, adding championship pedigree to the rebuilding men's basketball program of the many-time UAAP champions.
Godoy, a 5-foot-10 guard from Manaoag, Pangasinan, is a part of the Far Eastern University-Diliman crew that won the UAAP Season 88 boys basketball crown. He averaged 8.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 steals in 18 minutes of play.
READ Cabonilas draws Meneses, Duremdes comparisons from coach Chambers
Gemao, a 6-foot-1 swingman from San Pedro, Laguna, was also a former Baby Tamaraw who transferred to Mapua for the NCAA Season 101 juniors basketball tournament. He logged 4.0 points in 12 minutes of play as the Red Robins captured the Division 2 crown in the 2026 Smart-NBTC National Finals.
The two will reunite with fellow FEU-Diliman recruit Dexter Santos, a 6-foot-5 forward who earlier committed to UE.
Meanwhile, Bual, a 5-foot-11 playmaker from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, was the Junior Warriors' team captain last season and averaged 4.7 points, 2.4 boards, and 2.9 assists.
UE Dawn reported the news as coach Chris Gavina bulks up his lineup in the offseason.
Also moving up from the high school program is Ivorian forward JM Edoukou.
The 6-foot-5 banger is the cousin of naturalized player Ange Kouame and suited up for UE last season, tallying 5.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in the team's fifth place finish in the UAAP Season 88 wars.
Completing the rookie class is Khellian Taparan from Jose Rizal University.
The 6-foot-3 forward from Makati logged averagaes of 4.3 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Light Bombers this past NCAA season.
All players are eligible to play this season and will have five years of eligibility.
On the other hand, UE also got a pair of transferees in Dan Gelo Pascua from Philippine Christian University and Diether Tagra from LPU-Davao. Both will first undergo residency before being eligible to play for the Red Warriors in UAAP Season 90.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
