THE exodus of players continues for Ateneo.
Fil-Italian playmaker Gab Gomez has announced he will not play his final year with the Blue Eagles after three seasons.
“As I’m writing this message, I find myself with bittersweet emotions. It hurts to let you know that my journey as a Blue Eagle ends and I will be moving forward with my basketball journey,” Gomez, 24, said on his Instagram account late last Monday night.“Though my time in Ateneo did not end as I expected, I still see it as a blessing that I was part of something special. It was still a dream come true,” he added.
Gomez looked back on his stint with the Katipunan-based five with nothing but gratitude.
“I grew up in a small city in Italy where basketball became a huge part of my life. I dreamt like every other kid, and mine was to simply play in the Philippines,” Gomez said. “A dream that became a reality in 2020 when I was recruited by Ateneo.”
It was not immediately clear if he intended to transfer to another school or return to Italy.
Gomez sat out several games in the last cage wars after he suffered a wrist injury.
He normed 2.5 points, an assist, 0.4 rebounds, and 0.2 steals while playing 7:36 minutes in 10 games, but was still grateful for the time that he spent with the Tab Baldwin-mentored Ateneo side.
“To my teammates, it was a pleasure playing alongside all of you. Thank you for welcoming me, for all the memories, the joys, and tears, but especially for treating me like a brother,” he said.
