MALICK Diouf has been formally awarded UAAP Season 85 men's basketball MVP honors on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Senegalese big man became the latest Fighting Maroon to claim the top individual award after Bright Akhuetie did it in 2018.
See UP goes for the kill as Ateneo tries to extend UAAP Finals
Diouf was stellar all season long, posting averages of 10.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.5 steals through 14 games to help UP earn a return trip to the finals and close in on a second straight title.
He also joins an elite club of UP players to win the MVP together with Akhuetie, Eric Altamirano (1986), and Fort Acuna (1968).
"I just want to say thank you for this blessing. I thank my teammates for helping me get this individual award. But the job is not yet done. We just hope in two or three hours we will celebrate in our school," said Diouf.
Teammate Carl Tamayo joined Diouf in the Mythical Team, which also included the Ateneo backcourt of Forthsky Padrigao and Dave Ildefonso, and University of the East forward Luis Villegas.
Kevin Quiambao also capped off his impressive first year with the Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 11.23 points, 6.54 rebounds, 3.23 assists, and 1.08 steals for La Salle.
He was the first rookie from La Salle to win the plum after Aljun Melecio in 2016.
Tamayo also won the Lazada Swag Player of the Season, while Jerom Lastimosa took home the PSBankable Player of the Season for taking home the most Player of the Game honors.
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