The exodus of Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) standouts to the big leagues of Manila continued after the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers’ promising point guard Gabriel Cometa was invited to try out for a spot with NCAA powerhouse, San Beda Red Lions.

A speedy and crafty point guard who played above and beyond his rookie status with UV last year, Cometa was pegged by Green Lancers head coach Gary Cortes to be a “future star.”

“Gab has a talent and a gift. He can play around with his defenders and is definitely a future star,” said Cortes in a previous interview.

But with the Cesafi shelving its 2020 season, Cometa’s star will be rising not with the green and white but potentially inside the Red Lions’ lair as he explained that it was the right time to grab the opportunity that has long been dangled in front of him.

“I’ve been thinking for a long time about making a move to San Beda but I've been busy with the games that I have here in Cebu. At this time of quarantine, where the basketball leagues have been suspended, I've completely made my decision to move to San Beda where it has more room for opportunities for me and for my basketball career,” said Cometa in an exclusive talk with SunStar Cebu.

Cometa said the recruitment offers from Manila had been coming and going over the last two years but he really didn’t pay serious attention to any of those since he and his family wasn’t ready at that time. But the Cesafi cancelling its season proved to be a sign that he could no longer ignore.

“This will bring me a step closer to my dreams. The Manila offers have been around for the last two years but I wasn’t really interested. Besides, my family wasn’t ready at that time. But when the pandemic came and the Cesafi was cancelled this year, San Beda remained persistent in their offer to make me part of their team so we decided to grab that opportunity,” said Cometa.

San Beda losing its star guard Evan Nelle to La Salle has created the perfect storm for Cometa to come and seize the chance to make a name for himself.

“I am very excited and little nervous because we all know that the games that they have there are on the different level but my principle in life is "you reap what you sow,” added Cometa.

The 5-foot-9 guard said he will stick to the formula that has worked for him all through these years.

“My father and I have this formula in basketball — prayers, frequent practice and good attitude and hunger. I believe in this formula,” Cometa said. (JNP)