Chabi Yo proves worth

SOULEMANE Chabi Yo hopes to lead UST back to the UAAP throne. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG

Soulemane Chabi Yo wants the bigger trophy, but winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honor is something he needs to prove.

Moments after being named the Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball MVP, the Beninese forward showed why he’s the top player in the league after sending University of Santo Tomas (UST) to the next stage of the stepladder semifinals against University of the Philippines (UP) with a solid performance.

“I just want to go out there and prove to everyone that I deserve this award. And I was just grateful that we got the win today,” said Chabi Yo, who finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds in the Growling Tigers’ 81-71 win over Far Eastern University (FEU) last Wednesday.

But the six-foot-six athletic big man knew that their job is far from done as they need to win twice against the No. 2 seed Fighting Maroons to get back in the UAAP finals for the first time since 2015.

“For me, it’s okay. That’s good but what’s more important is the championship, so we have to give our best.”

“I just want to give back to the UST community as they are very supportive to me and the team. I want to give them the championship,” he added.

Chabi Yo will be the first MVP from UST since Dylan Ababou in 2009 but the first-year player said he’s focus is to break their 13-year title drought.

The last time they reached the finals was in 2015 but lost to the Tamaraws and the last time they won the UAAP crown was in 2006 under coach Pido Jarencio.

Prior the season, the last three years were downhill for UST and when coach Aldin Ayo took over in Season 81, the team finished sixth to miss the Final Four round anew.

Now, behind Chabi Yo, Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy, Rhenz Abando, Zach Hwang, Ben Paraiso, CJ Cansino, the Growling Tigers proved their doubters wrong.

And Chabi Yo said they are hungry for more and they are out to get a win on Sunday against UP and force a do-or-die duel for the last finals seat and the right to meet Ateneo de Manila University in the best-of-three championship series.