Fil-Am Prospect Andy Gemao Could be the First Homegrown Filipino in the NBA
The Filipinos are still looking for the first homegrown Filipino talent in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the prospects keep coming at that elusive dream. Many have tried, from Japeth Aguilar to Bobby Ray Parks and the latest was Kai Sotto but that player to be named as the first Filipino that was born in our country to ever wear an NBA jersey still can’t happen.
Although we already have players who have Filipino blood in the league, that distinction to be the first cager raised in our country still cannot be realized. The first player with Filipino blood to enter the league was Raymond Townsend and now we have Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets and Gilas Pilpinas naturalized guard Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz. But they were raised stateside, and the Filipinos still hope for our own.
Enter the next homegrown Filipino NBA prospect: Andy Gemao – a 6-foot, 180-pound stocky guard who is currently playing for Veritas Academy Prep in Santa Fe Springs, California. He is currently in the country playing in the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) for Fil-Am Nation. His team is currently in the finals against UAAP champions Adamson University. The championship match is set on Sunday, where Gemao and his team will go toe-to-toe with the Baby Falcons, led by captain Tebol Garcia.
Despite not playing with the likes of Terrence Hill, Dylan Victorio, and Kainoa Patton before, Gemao has blended well with this batch of Fil-Am.
“Para sa akin, siguro mas seasoned ‘yung team from last year, kahit na one week pa lang kaming magkakasama, may immediate na bond at chemistry kami,” Gemao shared.
The former Letran high school standout is not just a bench warmer in his first season with Veritas Academy. He showed his all-around game with 6 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals versus Orangeville Prep last December 14. Two days later, Gemao showed a brilliant facet of his game by grabbing 7 rebounds and scoring 7 points on 3-of-8 shooting from the field against Brewster Academy.
Gemao’s career is only at the beginning, and no one can tell if it’s going to be the NBA in the future, so let’s just enjoy the ride. But when reporter Japheth Bandi interviewed him at the All-Star Weekend festivities in Indianapolis, it was apparent that Gemao had kept an open mind. “I’m still looking for other options, but if I can, I’m staying with Veritas.”
An option to go back to the Philippines is also on the table but chasing an NBA dream remains the top priority. “Yeah, if nothing is really going on here, yeah,” he added. Gemao’s career is sailing well having participated at the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Camp, the third Filipino after AJ Edu and Sotto to get an invite to the annual event.
After his stint in Veritas Academy, Gemao is hoping to have an offer from a Division I NCAA team which will be his springboard in making it to the NBA. Gemao’s stint in the Basketball Without Borders during the NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis last February.was a big help to him, especially in boosting his confidence.
“I learned a lot in the [Basketball Without Borders camp], especially in adjusting quickly with my teammates,” said Gemao, who was the lone Filipino player to participate in the Basketball Without Borders camp.
In Basketball Without Borders, Gemao recorded a 40.5-inch vertical jump, the highest among the participants. However, the 6-foot-1 guard lost in the camp’s championship game as his Pistons was outlasted by the Pacers, 39-31.
