After just one semester at University of the East, Gani Stevens has decided to move on.
The 6-foot-7 sweet-shooting bruiser bid the Red Warriors farewell on Tuesday morning.
“This announcement comes with a heavy heart, but I look forward to a future of possibilities and new experiences as I bid farewell to all of you,” his statement read.
“This was one of the toughest decisions I had to make as an 18-year-old, but with the support of my family and friends, my time with the UE Red Warriors will come to an end.”
Stevens, 18, was initially a University of Santo Tomas-commit but decided during the summer leagues to move to UE.
In his sole season with the Red Warriors, Stevens averaged 9.36 points, 6.29 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.
Along with one-and-done Luis Villegas and the Paranada bros, the quartet powered UE to a sixth place finish in UAAP Season 85 with a 5-9 record.
According to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation however, Stevens did not enroll for the second semester, opting to come back home to Minnesota to re-assess his situation.
“My journey to the Philippines and my basketball experience has had its ups and downs. One thing that I will take away from our team is resiliency, hard work, dedication, selflessness, and the ability to overcome adversity. My teammates are my brothers, now and forever. I am grateful for their generosity. I have learned tremendously from all of my coaches, to whom I am always indebted,” he said.
“UE gave me the opportunity to improve my skills, and provided me with the tools and knowledge that will help me become a better student-athlete. Know that there will always be a space in my being for what a Red Warrior represents – strong, brave, self-reliant, and proud. I will not name all of you, as there were many mentors who impacted my journey here. I kindly ask that you support and cheer me on as I continue my path elsewhere.”
But that does not mean that Stevens will be staying in the US for good.
Stevens hinted that he will be coming back to see UE again in one way or another.
“Once again, thank you for everything that you have shown me. This is not a goodbye, but a ‘see you later’ to Pamantasan ng Silangan, on and off the court! Bomba UE!”
