Ni: Marivic Awitan

“Laro lang ako.”

Ito ang payak na tugon ni Paul Desiderio matapos maitarak ang career best performance sa kasalukuyang Season 80 ng UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

UP's Paul Desiderio tries to drive against La Salle's Santi Santillan during the UAAP Season 80 match at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, September 23, 2017 (Rio Leonelle Deluvio)
UP's Paul Desiderio tries to drive against La Salle's Santi Santillan during the UAAP Season 80 match at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, September 23, 2017 (Rio Leonelle Deluvio)

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Laban sa noo’y walang talo at liyamadong La Salle Green Archers, animo’y imortal na walang kapaguran ang 6-foot-3 forward tungo sa pagtipa ng career-high 30 puntos, anim na rebounds at limang aasists para sandigan ang University of the Philippines Maroons laban sa defending champion.

Ang 30 puntos ni Desiderio ang pinakamalaking puntos na naitala ng isang Maroon player mula noong 2003. Pinatunayan din ng Maroons na seryoso silang maging title contender ngayong season.

Dahil sa kanyang kahanga-hangang laro, nakamit ni Desiderio ang parangal bilang Chooks-to-Go UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week para sa lingo ng Setyembre 18 - 24.

Naungusan niya sa parangal ang kasanggang si Jun Manzo, Ben Mbala ng La Salle, Thirdy Ravena ng Ateneo, at Papi Sarr ng Adamson.

“Wala akong masabi. Nagpapasalamat lang ako sa mga teammates ko kasi tulong-tulong kami para manalo,” ani Desiderio.

Ayon naman kay UP coach Bo Perasol , ang nasabing “excellent performance” ng kanilang graduating leader ay dulot na ring ng suporta ng bawat isa.

“His teammates are his unsung heroes. They pass the ball to him, they rebound for him, they set screens for him, they do the little things for him.”