Foreign student-athletes Malick Diouf and Favour Onoh of the University of the Philippines are two of the major reasons why its men’s and women’s squads have perfect records after three starts in the UAAP basketball competitions.
Diouf, the reigning men’s basketball Most Valuable Player, posted three-game averages of 17 points, 15.33 rebounds, 2.67 blocks, and 1.33 assists to begin the Fighting Maroons’ revenge tour from their Season 85 runner-up finish.
Such impressive numbers earned Diouf the first Collegiate Press Corps UAAP men’s Player of the Week for the period Sept. 30 to Oct. 8.
The Senegalese center, who tallied three consecutive double-doubles to keep his team on top, won the men’s weekly nod presented by the San Miguel Corporation and backed by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Jockey.
Diouf beat La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao, UE’s Precious Momowei, NU’s Kean Baclaan, and Adamson’s Ced Manzano for the award.
The Nigerian center had her best game of the season with 18 points and 15 boards, earning her the Collegiate Press Corps’ first-ever UAAP Women’s Player of the Week citation.
Onoh earned the college scribes’ women’s weekly plum over her UP teammate Christie Bariquit, UST’s Kent Pastrana, and Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa.
In women’s basketball, another State U foreign student-athlete in Onoh was on a roll for the Maroons en route to a favorable position.
Averaging 11.33 points, 13 rebounds, 3.33 steals, and 2.33 blocks, Onoh’s breakthrough display in UP’s first win in 12 years against eight-peat-seeking NU was the cherry on top of a dream start for the maroon shirts.
Proving to be a formidable force on both ends of the floor, Onoh is thrilled to see the fruits of her labor in full effect to kickstart a promising campaign for the Maroons thus far.
“I’m so much excited about my game because I really want to support my team and we want to win. We worked hard from (the day) I arrived in the Philippines, especially for this season,” Onoh shared.
Both UP squads will bat for a fourth consecutive victory in as many games against FEU on Oct. 11 at the Mall of Asia Arena (men’s) and Adamson Gym (women’s).
