Inside Andy Gemao’s Impressive adidas Eurocamp Showing in Italy

Filipino guard Andy Gemao left Treviso, Italy with something meaningful at this stage of his career: proof that he could step into one of the most respected international scouting environments in the sport, compete against bigger and more experienced prospects, and shine against competition.

At the 2026 adidas Eurocamp, held from June 5 to 7 at La Ghirada in Treviso, Gemao was placed in Team World, a group composed of top prospects from outside the traditional United States and European pools. Across three games, the Penn State commit averaged 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while shooting 6-of-13 from three-point range.

The numbers highlight the rise of a blue-chip recruited adored by thousands in the Philippines who was steady in a setting designed to test how well prospects translate when the size, speed, systems, and scouting pressure all rise at the same time.

For Diego Dario, sports marketing consultant for adidas Philippines, who traveled with Gemao to Italy, that was the biggest takeaway from the week.

“It’s basically the best of the best in the world,” Dario told ALL-STAR in an exclusive interview. “Different selections from the US, Europe, best in Asia, even Africa. They’re all at least the best of the best.”

The adidas Eurocamp has long been treated as one of the major gathering points for international basketball evaluation. The event places rising prospects in front of coaches, scouts, executives, and decision-makers from different levels of the game, including NBA, G League, EuroLeague, and other professional basketball circles.

For Gemao, who is set to continue his career at Penn State, the trip was both a basketball test and an early introduction to the kind of environment that surrounds high-level player development.

According to Dario, the first layer of the experience was not even the games.

The opening part of the camp focused on performance testing and product analysis, with adidas putting players through detailed evaluations.

“They did some high-level testing for products,” Dario said. “They tested out the different selection, what’s going to fit them or not. Basically, what molds your feet [into place]. That’s how they explained it: not all shoes are the same, because not all feet are the same.”

The players also went through athletic testing, including jump testing and force plate work. Dario said the results gave people at the camp an early reason to look closer at Gemao.

“We didn’t see the comparisons, but people were surprised with how high Andy jumped,” Dario said.

“They didn’t expect that from a Filipino. He’s skinny, you know? You wouldn’t expect someone to jump high like that. Even his lateral force speed, he was up there compared to the others, even if he was smaller than the restl.”

He was listed at 175 centimeters, or around 5-foot-9. Other listings have had him taller, but the broader point remains: in Treviso, he was clearly one of the smaller guards on the floor. But as the old saying in sport goes: heart matters more than size.

That made the next part of the camp more important.

Dario described the structure as close to “two-a-days,” with practices in the morning and games in the afternoon. In the morning sessions, players were exposed to different systems and concepts from NBA-level coaches and assistants. In the afternoon, they had to apply those lessons against teams loaded with size, athleticism, and legitimate pro potential.

Gemao’s Team World group struggled as a team, losing all three of its games. But individually, the Filipino guard found ways to contribute every time out.

He opened with 13 points against the NBL Next Stars, who went on to win the event. He followed with 10 points and four assists against Eurocamp 2. He then closed with 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists against 3SSB Select, the same team that featured Fil-Am guard Blaze Johnson.

“Basically, he was the best player in Team World,” Dario said. “He was the most consistent.”

The cleanest basketball takeaway was his shooting. In a camp setting where rhythm can be difficult to find and roles can shift quickly, Gemao made six threes in three games. That’s significant for a guard preparing to enter the Big Ten, where spacing, decision-making, and physicality will quickly determine how early he can earn minutes.

But the more memorable moments, according to Dario, were not limited to jump shots.

There was one finish in particular that stuck with him: Gemao attacking Oscar Cluff, the 7-foot Australian big man who was also at Eurocamp.

“Andy tried to go right and then he switched it to the left hand against Oscar, and he still finished. Amazing finish.”

The play itself was a microcosm of Gemao’s tenure in Italy. He was not overpowering anyone. He was not physically overwhelming the camp. He was thriving despite limitations and finding solutions against the kind of size and length that Filipino guards do not always get to see consistently, at least not locally.

“Andy was really surprised to find out that he can hang with those guys at that level,” Dario said.

Gemao’s resume already had real substance before Treviso.

He helped lead Letran to the NCAA juniors championship in 2023, ending a long title drought for the program. He represented the Philippines in youth competition. He moved to Canada and played at Royal Crown School, where he built momentum as a high-level scorer and playmaker. He played offseason tournament games for UAAP title contender University of the Philippines, giving Fighting Maroons aficionados a preview of potential glory. He then committed to Penn State, giving the Philippines another name to follow in NCAA Division I basketball. Maybe beyond.

Eurocamp gave Gemao a comparison point. It also gave others a chance to see him in person.

Dario said NBA players were not necessarily the ones who singled Gemao out, but coaches and scouts noticed him. One of the names he mentioned was Phil Handy, the respected NBA development coach who has worked with some of the sport’s biggest stars.

According to Dario, Handy had positive things to say about Gemao’s feel and pace:

“He said Andy has a good feel for the game. He has a good pace for his age and stature.”

Dario also said Handy viewed Penn State as a good situation for Gemao, not because anyone was projecting him too far too soon, but because it could give him the kind of developmental environment and opportunity he needs.

No one around Gemao’s Eurocamp experience was trying to sell the idea that he is suddenly an NBA-bound player because of three games in Italy. The more grounded read is that he belonged in the camp, handled the moment well, and gave decision-makers more reasons to remember his name.

“They believe Andy can compete at a high level,” Dario said. “No one said he’s going to be an NBA player or something like that, but they said he belongs here. Even the scouts took notice. They know him. Just the fact that NBA scouts and G League scouts know him, it’s a big thing.

“But that’s the goal for Andy (making it to the NBA) and we believe in him. He’s gonna keep his head down, do the work, and see where this journey will tame him.”

The trip also created a notable Filipino basketball moment.

Gemao was able to connect with Blaze Johnson, the highly regarded Fil-Am guard from the class of 2028 who played for 3SSB Select at the same camp. Johnson, who has Filipino roots through his mother’s side and has been reported to have obtained a Philippine passport, is one of the more intriguing names for Filipino fans to monitor because of his elite U.S. prospect status and possible Gilas connection down the line. Scouts have pegged him as a potential future NBA draft pick, just like Jalen Green, Dylan Harper, and recently-crowned NBA champion Jordan Clarkson.

Dario said Gemao and Johnson crossed paths in Treviso and even guarded each other for stretches.

“Yes, we took a picture after,” Dario said. “Apparently, he’s very into connecting with his roots in the Philippines. They were actually guarding each other for a while.”

There were also off-court benefits to the trip. Dario said the adidas Philippines group was able to connect Gemao with global and regional members of the brand’s sports marketing team. That’s significant because Gemao’s college situation lines up neatly with the brand’s direction as well.

“Penn State will be an adidas school,” Dario said. “It’s kind of aligned.”

The camp also included appearances and advice sessions from prominent basketball names. Dario mentioned that VJ Edgecombe, Franz Wagner, and Kenny Atkinson were among those present to share thoughts with the players in a question and answer panel. Gemao did not have a personal interaction with each of them, but he was in the room, listening to the type of guidance usually reserved for players already operating in elite basketball ecosystems.

“I believe what makes Andy special is his balance of humility and high self belief. He knows he has more work to do but he also believes in the talent and amount of work that he’s done,” said Dario.

“Add to that his strong support system. His parent, his circle, and his agent support him by being present, always touching base, and doing the behind the scenes work for Andy to reach his potential. It’s awesome to see and witness. Together with the team behind the adidas family, we just try to help build his brand, give him the best gear, and give him opportunities to be the best he can be.”

For Gemao, the next step is Penn State. That is where the real work begins. College basketball will be more physical, more detailed, and less forgiving than any short camp setting. His size will continue to be tested. His decision-making will have to sharpen. His defensive discipline, strength, and ability to handle longer athletes will all matter.

But in Treviso, he gave himself a useful starting point. He did not need to have monumental performances to make the trip meaningful. He just needed to show that he belonged.

At the Adidas Eurocamp, he did that and more.