FOR a 30-point performance that powered University of the Philippines to a huge win over titleholder La Salle, Paul Desiderio is being honored by scribes covering UAAP Season 80.
The Fighting Maroons main man fired his career-high in points against the champions, and won the vote for Chooks-to-Go UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week from Sept. 18 to 24.
The 20-year-old Desiderio was picked over teammate Jun Manzo, Ben Mbala of La Salle, Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo and Papi Sarr of Adamson for the weekly citation
Desiderio deflected the praise even as he notched the most points by a UP player since 2003. Against the defending champions, the Cebuano hit six of State U’s 16 total triples.
“Nagpapasalamat lang ako sa mga teammates ko kasi tulong-tulong kami para manalo,” said Desiderio.
Desiderio started the season slow, averaging 13 points on 26.3 percent shooting, but busted out with 28 points for the Maroons against UE last week.
“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,” said UP coach Bo Perasol.
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