MAODO Malick Diouf is confident Centro Escolar University can continue its strong run and says the eight-man Scorpions squad will give it all against Cignal-Ateneo in the 2019 PBA D-League Finals.
"We're not intimidated," he said after the Scorpions’ 89-72 win over St. Clare College Virtual Reality on Tuesday to win the best-of-three semifinals, 2-1.
Diouf said he saw how Ateneo swept the formidable Valencia City Bukidnon-SSCR in the semifinals, but he isn’t backing down.
"They're a good team. They're a disciplined team. I was watching them last time against San Sebastian and I know they will be hard to beat," he said.
But the Senegalese Diouf has maintained his trust in his squad — down to eight after seven players were dropped from the team and eventually kicked out by CEU for alleged game fixing.
"I have confidence on my teammates. It's so hard to win, especially now that we only have eight players. But now, all I can think of is the Finals," the 20-year-old center said.
Diouf will be at the forefront of the battle for CEU with Game One of the Finals set on Thursday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
"We will do our best," he vowed.
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