Ateneo has secured the commitment of one of the brightest young Filipino guards playing overseas.
Bologna Basketball Playground announced that Filipino-Italian combo guard Patrick Gomez will head to Ateneo, Monday morning.
“It’s been a dream since I was a kid,” Gomez said of his decision to attend Ateneo.
“I always watch Ateneo. When they offered me, ‘di ko pinag-isipan. Ina-accept ko agad. Minsan lang po magka-ganoong opportunity, so I decided to go.”
Gomez is a 20-year-old student-athlete and has a unique case.
Gomez will be holding a degree in Tourism from ITET Aldo Capitini in Perugia. This means that he is entering a master’s track and can play up to four years.
He is no stranger to Philippine basketball.
Back in 2019, Gomez was part of the Italy Europe Proudly Pinoy that competed in the Chooks-to-Go NBTC National Finals. Averaging a team-high 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, he and Cholo Anonuevo were able to steer the squad to a top four finish in Division II.
He was also the back-to-back MVP of Proudly Pinoy’s league from 2018 and 2019.
Besides this, Gomez is a product of Serie C Gold club Perugia Basket.
He was also part of the Mythical Five of the Matipunong Basketbolista sa Roma and Parma Europe League, crowned MVP and Best Scorer of Memorial Romei, and hailed as Best Prospect by the Saioni Tournament.
“In our program, we’re always looking at high character guys. It’s evident that he’s an outstanding young man. His on-court demeanor, he can play the point, shooting guard, he’s an outstanding shooter,” said Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin.
“He has the European game, so that should translate pretty easily to the system that we want to play. He’s an intelligent young man.”
In Ateneo, he joins a backcourt that consists of SJ Belangel, Tyler Tio, and Gian Mamuyac.
