UAAP Season 85 MVP Malick Diouf and runner-up Forthsky Padrigao now work together for one goal with the Zamboanga Valientes for the the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship.
Former collegiate rivals Malick Diouf and Forthsky Padrigao have joined forces as they seek to help the Zamboanga Valientes in the upcoming 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship beginning this weekend.
After intense rivalries during their days in UP and Ateneo, which included a tight race for the MVP award in UAAP Season 85, Diouf and Padrigao will be wearing the same colors for the first time ever.
Though it may be unexpected for both of them, the two UAAP champions said that they welcome the opportunity with open arms, and are eager to work together for their common goal.
Diouf, who edged Forthsky for the MVP plum in 2022, said that Padrigao, along with his UST teammate Nic Cabañero, would be a good addition to the team, noting star guard's playmaking skills in particular.
[RELATED: Forthsky Padrigao reconnects with his roots in Dubai stint with Zamboanga Valientes]
“They’re going to be a good help. They came fresh from the UAAP. They were playing really good, especially (Forthsky) Padrigao as a point guard. He has experience. They’re going to be a big help for us,” said Diouf.
As the only two collegiate stars in Zamboanga’s lineup, Padrigao and Cabañero will bring a lot of youthful energy to the team, but it also comes with a level of inexperience at the international level.
Needing all the help they can get considering their short preparation time, Padrigao said that his connection with Cabañero as a teammate and with Diouf as a familiar opponent, will be key to being more in-sync with each other when they face their rival teams in Dubai.
“Actually, naging madali nga eh [makipaglaro kay Malick],” said Padrigao.
“Kasi sa daming beses namin magkalaban sa UAAP, kumbaga parang pamilyar kami sa laro ng bawa't isa so nung nagsama na kami mas naging madali ngayon ‘yung dynamic,” he added.
Cabañero mirrored the same sentiments, as he hopes to make his impact felt with his fellow young gunners.
“Sobrang thankful ako and grateful din ako sa team, kay Malick din. Matagal na kami magkakilala ever since [Season] 84, magkakilala na kami. Excited din ako na makalaro din siya, and ayon, madami ding ex-PBA players dito, I think marami din akong matututunan sa kanila,” said Cabañero.
[RELATED: Kyt Jimenez takes leap with Zamboanga Valientes after stagnant PBA career — ‘Lumilipas yung sikat natin’]
Apart from the troika of collegiate stars, also on board for Zamboanga Valientes are Malta big man Samuel Deguara, Ken Holmqvist, former NBA player Adonis Thomas, Prince Caperal, Rashawn McCarthy, Mike Tolomia, Kyt Jimenez,
Job Alcantara, Rudy Lingganay, Denver Cadiz, and Das Esa.
Zamboanga makes its debut in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship on Saturday, January 25, against UAE’s Sharjah SC.