Two good friends are hoping to reunite at España.
Gilas Pilipinas Youth standouts Renzo Competente and Zain Mahmood are looking to commit University of Santo Tomas, according to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation.
Competente, 19, is a transferee from Far Eastern University, while Mahmood, 18, is set to graduate from Maranatha High School.
The two represented the Philippines during the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship 2022.
Competente, a 6-foot-3 sniper, graduated from Citrus Valley High School a year ago before heading to FEU.
After a one-year residency period, he can finally showcase his skills starting in UAAP Season 88 once he commits to UST.
Meanwhile, Mahmood’s move to UST came as a surprise as he expressed his desire to go to Ateneo de Manila University during his final years in high school.
The 6-foot-6 Fil-Canadian forward ended up going to España.
Mahmood was the rock for Gilas during the Qatar tournament, averaging 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Meanwhile, Competente normed 11.7 points per game in the same tournament.
Mahmood will form a frontline with the likes of Christian Manaytay, Peter Osang, and Chase Lane for UAAP Season 87.
Competente, on the other hand, will complement the likes of Nic Cabanero, Kyle Paranada, and Forthsky Padrigao once he clears residency.
