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Former Bullpups Tamayo, Abadiano join Maroons for UAAP 83

Tamayo and Abadiano with Fighting Maroons head coach Bo Perasol, Bright Akhuetie, Ricci Rivero, and UPMBT manager Agaton Uvero
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--University of the Philippines scored a major recruitment coup in its buildup for UAAP Season 83, acquiring former NSNU players Carl Tamayo and Gerry Abadiano.

Team Manager Agaton Uvero announced on Saturday that the two former Bullpups committed to the Fighting Maroons for the new season, whose official start remains unknown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Carl and Gerry will be a big part of our rebuilding efforts,” Uvero said. “We graduated six players last season and we have five more players who have just one playing year left. These two will help us secure our basketball future. We hope they will be model student-athletes of UP.”

“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,” added Coach Bo Perasol, who personally met with both players to formalize their commitment.

Asked why they opted to move to UP instead of staying in NU, both Tamayo and Abadiano said that UP has been their "dream school."

"Education is one of my reasons for picking the school and siyempre ‘yung basketball program din," Tamayo, an incoming sports science major, said.

"Hindi lang ito tungkol sa paglalaro. Yung napili ko rin dito is education. Kapag natapos na [ang basketball], di natin masabi ano mangyayari. Ang importante ay maganda ang tinapos namin," added Abadiano, who took up a degree program in tourism.

Tamayo and Abadiano will join fellow Gilas Pilipinas Youth player RC Calimag, Miguel Tan, Alonso Tan and Anton Eusebio, Ethan Kirkness, and Sam Dowd as the Fighting Maroons' rookies for Season 83.

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