High school standouts Carl Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano commit to UP

Former juniors basketball standouts Carl Tamayo and Gerry Abadiano will bring their talents to Diliman as they commit to University of the Philippines men’s basketball team.

UP team manager Agaton Uvero confirmed the big move on Saturday.

“Carl [Tamayo] and Gerry [Abadiano] will be a big part of our rebuilding efforts,” Uvero said in a statement.

The Fighting Maroons will pin their hopes on the two as UP looks to strengthen their future team. “Six of our players graduated last season and we have five more players who have just one playing year left. These two talents will help us secure our basketball future. We hope they will be model student-athletes of UP,” Uvero added.

The two standouts were part of National University’s two straight consecutive titles in the UAAP juniors basketball, with Tamayo winning the Finals MVP award in both seasons.

Tamayo and Abadiano were also part of the Gilas Pilipinas team which competed in the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup.

Maroons head coach Bo Perasol considers the two as big additions to their team. “We are very happy to have Carl and Gerry in our team. Coming straight out of high school, they have five full playing years with the team. They will really be a big boost for our young team which is again in the process of rebuilding,” said Perasol.

The Diliman-based squad has been making big recruitment moves recently as standouts like Xavier School’s Miguel Tan, Fil-Canadians Alonso Tan and Anton Eusebio, Fil-Australian center Ethan Kirkness, Fil-Am guard Sam Dowd, and Gilas Youth cadet RC Calimag also committed to UP.

UAAP Season 83 is expected to commence early next year. – RC, GMA News