RENZO Competente is in the United States after joining the Gilas Pilipinas Youth, but will most likely return to the country next year to play in the UAAP.
Competente’s father Lloyd said his son will finish his education at Citrus Valley High School in Redlands, California but is already excited to play college ball, with the UAAP in his sight.
“Renzo will definitely be back next year to play in the UAAP after he finishes his high school education,” said Lloyd. “It is Renzo’s dream of playing in the UAAP and we are all out 100 percent whichever school he chooses where Renzo feels he can strongly contribute right away for the team,” said Lloyd.
Renzo’s consultant Homer Bautista echoed the elder Competente's sentiments.
“Renzo is back now after his U16 Batang Gilas stint in Qatar. He will be staying in California to finish his high school education and his commitment to his basketball varsity coach. Renzo will take this opportunity to further hone his skills and get stronger to be prepared for the UAAP 2023-2024 seniors basketball season,” said Bautista.
Renzo was part of the Gilas Pilipinas roster during the 2022 Fiba Asia Under-16 Championship in Doha, Qatar. The 6-foot-2 cager averaged 11.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in six games with Gilas Youth, including tallies of 15 and 18 points, respectively, against Kazakhstan in the qualification to the quarterfinals and Australia in the quarterfinals.
Competente decided to go to the United States after he was named as the Palarong Pambansa MVP in the 2018 Palarong Pambansa, and it paid dividends as he was able to earn a spot with the Gilas Pilipinas Youth this year.
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