There are basketball decisions, and then there are human decisions. Ateneo de Manila University's 6-foot-3 shooting guard Kyle Gamber has made the latter, and honestly, we should all be applauding it.
As first reported by Homer Sayson of the Abante Bilyonaryo Group, the Fil-Am guard is officially opting to sit out the upcoming UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament. The underlying reality is heavy: Gamber opted to be sidelined because he remains deeply affected by the devastating June tragedy in Aurora. That off-campus team-building incident tragically claimed the lives of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia and Divine Adili to drowning.
Following the initial report, Naveen Ganglani confirmed the news, noting that Gamber will take a redshirt year to train and preserve his playing eligibility, officially citing "personal reasons". Gamber took to Instagram to set the record straight himself.
“Yes, I am sitting out this season for personal reasons,” Gamber stated. “I love the team, especially all the guys. Let’s not push any false narratives. Thank you”.
Let's pause here. This is a profoundly reasonable, mature decision, and it deserves nothing but absolute respect from the basketball community.
The Basketball Void
Gamber is a legitimate perimeter threat. He was named the Best Three-Point Shooter during the 2025 AsiaBasket College Campus Tour, where he helped pilot Ateneo to the championship game. We also saw his clutch gene in the UAAP Season 88 3x3 tournament earlier this year, where he hit game-winners against NU and UST to secure a silver medal. He possesses a modern 6-foot-3 frame, an elite shooting touch, and a pedigree that includes representing Gilas Pilipinas at the 2022 FIBA U18 Asian Championship.
The Human Element
But right now, the basketball simply doesn't matter.
When unimaginable trauma hits a collegiate locker room, everyone processes grief differently. To ask a young athlete to just lace up his sneakers, run floppy actions, and act as a public face for a team carrying so much emotional weight is a massive, often unfair ask.
I expect this decision to be universally accepted and well-received across all camps—from the Ateneo administration to the hardcore UAAP fan base. By taking a redshirt year, Gamber is doing exactly what he needs to do. Taking a step back removes him from the immediate, glaring spotlight of Season 89. It allows him to quietly improve his game in the gym, process his grief at his own pace, and put necessary distance between himself and the lingering public negativity associated with the incident.
Gamber is choosing his peace of mind over a basketball schedule. In a sports culture that constantly preaches "toughing it out," stepping away to heal is the ultimate sign of strength.
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