Batang Gilas guard Andy Gemao gets a fresh start in his high school basketball career as he plays for Royal Crown School in Toronto this fall.

He arrived in the city earlier this month from Newfoundland, and immediately tried out at one of Canada’s top high school programs.

Coach Ray Montaniel assisted in the tryout process. The executive director of Fil-Can Nation Select said the school liked what they saw from the 2024 NBTC champion, as he is eyed to share backcourt duties with Canada U18 national team player Justus Haseley.

“He’s (Gemao) explosive and I love the way he moves,” Montaniel said. “He’s very, very crafty. He reminds me of Kyrie (Irving). That’s kinda like who us and the coaching staff compared him to during his tryout at Royal Crown."

Montaniel added of the Filipino player: "He’s someone who can make some noise in the Ontario basketball scene. Probably the first full Filipino to make big moves in the OSV at the highest level. We’re really excited for him.”

Gemao described Canada as a peaceful country, though he admitted the temperature can be quite cold at times.

The 18-year-old guard’s move to Canada with his family was a significant decision, as he has two years of high school eligibility left.

Fortunately, he will be able to suit up immediately this season. Unlike his past experiences in the U.S., he will have his loved ones by his side to support him in this new chapter.

Gemao acknowledged that the U.S. and Canadian styles of play are quite similar, given the frequent matchups between the two. However, he said the style in Canada is different from what he was used to in the Philippines.

“There’s a huge difference here compared to the Philippines,” Gemao said. “They're (players) are more skilled and almost all of them are strong. They don’t have loopholes. The support system is better because my family is here. I have the energy to compete more.”

The NCAA Season 98 juniors finals MVP believes that his game will continue to develop with the competition he will face. He also vowed not to waste the opportunity and the clear plan that Royal Crown has for him.

“They [Royal Crown] have a full plan for me, and I’ll make sure to maximize that, as well as the opportunities provided by the coaches,” he said.

Gemao returned to the Philippines earlier this week to play once more for Batang Gilas at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in Jordan, set to take place from Sept. 2 to 9. 

This comes after Batang Gilas swept the SEABA qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur last July.