Andy Gemao is the next Filipino who will chase his hoops dreams in the United States.
The high-flying 6-foot guard began the process of transferring to another school on Tuesday afternoon, starting with his departure from Letran High School, according to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation.
Tiebreaker Times’ sources added that Gemao is set to try out at Veritas Academy National Prep, a Nike Elite high school located in Malibu, California.
Reaching the highest level of competition has always been the dream of Gemao and his coach, Allen Ricardo.
“Talagang si Andy, we’re trying to help him reach the international level,” Ricardo once said.
“Ang goal ko dito sa mga bata na ito is to take them to the next level, which is college, and eventually to the professional league. Siyempre as a coach, ang fulfillment ay makita ang mga players na umabot sa mas mataas na level.”
Gemao’s one-and-done year with the Squires was nothing short of spectacular.
The then-Grade 10 guard dazzled with averages of 18.91 points, 7.09 rebounds, 2.91 assists, and 2.18 steals per game.
He elevated his game to another level in the finals against La Salle Green Hills, putting up numbers of 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game en route to winning the Finals MVP and ending Letran’s 22-year title drought.
During the summer, Gemao was invited to participate in the NBA Basketball Without Borders event, where he was named an all-star.
Now, he sets his sights on a path taken by only a few elite prospects — going to the US.
