PAUL Desiderio admits fatigue simply caught up with him as he struggled with his shots in Café France's Game Three loss to Racal in the PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup semifinals.
The UP Maroons guard scored 16 points but shot a woeful 5-for-19 as the Bakers bowed out on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
It was a huge important game to start the week for Desiderio after a long hard weekend.
After leading the Bakers to the victory in Game Two on Thursday, he suited up for games with the Fighting Maroons against La Salle and National University in Davao.
The Maroons are also seeing action in the Republica Cup.
"Oo nasunog ako," Desiderio, who scored 42 points in the Maroons' title-clinching win over La Salle in Davao, said as he emerged from the team's dugout at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
"Wala tayong magagawa ganun talaga basketball. Pagod na rin kasi galing din ako sa Davao. Ginawa pa rin namin best namin, short lang talaga sa huli," he said.
There is no time to rest, though, for the UP captain, as the Maroons preparations for the UAAP starts rolling on Wednesday.
"Wala pa rin pahinga kasi may training sa UP bukas. Preparations na rin para sa UAAP. Focus muna ako dito," he said.
Still, he is happy to bring to the Maroons a wealth of experience from the D-League where he went up against top guards like ex-pros Mark Cruz, Pamboy Raymundo and Juami Tiongson.
"Malaking tulong sa akin nung kumpyansang binigay ni coach Egay (Macaraya of Cafe France). Ginawa nya akong captain ball kahit bago lang ako. Unti-unti matutunan ko yung role na yan," he said.