Malick Diouf formally named UAAP MVP

Malick Diouf is offcially the UAAP Season 85 MVP. Dennis Acosta
By Dugout Philippines

QUEZON CITY—Senegalese big man Malick Diouf of the University of the Philippines was hailed as Season 85 Most Valuable Player on Wednesday afternoon moments before Game Two of the Finals between the Fighting Maroons and Ateneo de Manila University.

The 6-foot-11 big man normed 10.79 points, 10.86 rebounds, 2.86 assists, 1.57 blocks, and 1.5 steals during the elimination round where the awards are based on. That showing earned him 73.9 statistical points (SP) to secure the MVP trophy.

"I just want to say thank you for this blessing. Thank you to my teammates but the job is not yet done. I hope that in two or three hours, we will be celebrating in our school," said Diouf as the Fighting Maroons look to sweep Ateneo de Manila University later in the day and give UP a historic two titles in a span of one calendar year.

Completing the Mythical Five are Ateneo's Forthsky Padrigao and Dave Ildefonso, University of the East's Luis Villegas, and teammate Carl Tamayo.

Padrigao averaged 11.0 points, 5.5 assists, 4.36 rebounds, and 2.36 steals to come a close second to Diouf with 71.6 SPs, while teammate Ildefonso managed 12.97 points and 8.29 rebounds.

One-and-done Villegas led the Red Warriors' resurgence with 13.14 points, 8.07 rebounds, 3.79 assists, and 1.93 steals, while second-year Tamayo had 13.79 points and 7.71 rebounds.

In the battle for the top freshman honor, Green Archer Kevin Quiambao rose and collected the Rookie of the Year plum.

The flashy forward averaged 11.23 points, 6.54 rebounds, 3.23 assists, and 1.08 steal to best National University's Kean Baclaan and UE's Gani Stevens.

After winning four Player of the Game honors, Jerom Lastimosa was hailed as the PSBankable Player of the Season. He banked P50,000.

A total of 28,000 fans voted Tamayo as the Lazada Swag Player of the Season. He took home P30,000.

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