Reigning MVP Malick Diouf confident UP will secure Final Four bonus

Next up for the University of the Philippines: secure one of the two twice-to-beat advantages after booking a spot in the Final Four in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.

The back-to-back championship contender is making an early trip back to the playoffs for the fifth straight season following its 79-72 escape win over feisty University of the East on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

With three remaining matches in the elimination round, reigning MVP Malick Diouf is looking forward to helping the squad sweep the rest of the games heading into the Final Four.

“It’s good to have that advantage. So, we have to work for it. We have a game on Saturday, we have to be ready for that. And let’s see. I think we can get it. We’ll get it,” said Diouf.

Diouf, who had to nurse a right wrist sprain injury, more than made up for missing their previous match in sensational fashion and lifted the squad to the bounce back victory with a double-double performance of 19 points and 15 rebounds.

As it stands, UP stayed as the top seed with a 9-2 record owing its two losses to defending champion Ateneo and De La Salle.

“It’s good to be in the Final Four first. I think it doesn’t change anything. We have to be ready, we have to prepare well to finish first the second round and think about the Final Four and the twice-to-beat (advantage) also,” Diouf added.

Despite the team being hounded by unwanted injuries which includes JD Cagulangan and Terrence Fortea, who both just returned from a hamstring and knee injuries, respectively, the Fighting Maroons have their full trust on head tactician Goldwin Monteverde in coming up with “a calculated decision” to work with the rest of the roster.

“But the point is, to stay focused. Because this is one thing that we have worked hard for all throughout the years. We have been practicing since January, the second week of January and the league is only two and a half months long. Injuries are part of it, pagod is a part of it, but it’s really a part of an athlete,” said UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon.

Luanzon also added that having their destiny be completely in their hands and not relying on other factors help in keeping the whole team upbeat and focused on their next target.

UP will resume action on Saturday, Nov. 11, for its bid for the twice-to-beat advantage against Far Eastern University, which is currently fighting for its life in the standings with a 3-7 record.