MALICK Diouf isn determined to not settle for an individual honor as he seeks the trophy his whole team will enjoy - the UAAP Season 85 men's basketball championship.
"[If] I won the MVP, I think it's just like something ... so I'm not thinking about it, I'm just focusing on the finals because that's the more important [thing] for the team," said Diouf, the University of the Philippines' Senegalese big man.
"So, that's why, I don't like the people calling me MVP," added Diouf, with UP two wins away from completing the back-to-back.
See Napa, NU Bulldogs look to build on surprise run to Final Four
Far from the statistical point race leaders after the first round, Diouf went on to produce consistent numbers for the second-seeded Maroons.
Diouf, last season's Finals MVP, posted averages of 10.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.8 blocks during the elimination round.
He also soared among his peers in twice-to-beat UP's 69-61 victory to eliminate the Bulldogs in the Final Four, tallying game highs in points with 17 and rebounds with 21.
Head coach Goldwin Monteverde also praised his workhorse big for being the team's kuya, setting an example in a team full of talented cagers.
"I see Malick, you know, besides dun sa title, yung effort niya is you know, para sa akin, every day even in practice, even outside the way he leads his team, the way he gives [pieces of advice,]" said Monteverde.
"Kumbaga, every day he's being an MVP sa team namin," he continued.
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