By MARK REY MONTEJO
Burly forward Shawn Umali is off to a new journey as he bade the Lyceum Pirates goodbye.
Umali, who bannered the Intramuros-based squad alongside Enoch Valdez and JM Bravo, expressed his gratitude to the Lyceum community, who gave him an opportunity to grow and to showcase his skills.
“From the moment I entered LPU, I have been welcomed with open arms and genuine warmth. The support and encouragement from each one of you have made my journey here a memorable one,” Umali said on a Facebook post on Friday, Feb. 2.
The Tondo-native closed out Season 99 by listing 10.1 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game on top of 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals as huge leap from his previous numbers which allowed him to win the Most Improved Player award in Season 98.
The Pirates finished second in the eliminations with a 13-5 win-loss card – thanks to six-game winning streak in the opening round to catapault them into the semifinals where they squandered a twice-to-beat advantage and yielded to the eventual champions San Beda Red Lions.
It’s still unclear where Umali is heading or what is his next plan to his career but 6-foot-3 cager also thanked his teammates who guided him and treated him as a family.
“To my teammates, you all have been more than just companions on the court. You’ve become a second family to me, and I am proud to call each one of you a teammate and a friend, to the LPU Community who have cheered us on, your support has been our motivation,” Umali continued.
Wishing everyone continued success in our own chosen path! VIVA PIRATA!” he ended.