After the final buzzer sounded in the CEU Scorpions’ do-or-die game against the Go for Gold-CSB Scratchers, Malick Diouf dropped to his knees and broke down.
“I’m tired, one-hundred percent. I can do nothing in the last quarter, but we need to win,” the 19-year-old Senegalese student-athlete admitted.
The past 24 hours had been a roller-coaster ride for the young Scorpions.
Wednesday afternoon, head coach Derrick Pumaren received some bad news from the school’s brass. Nine to 10 players from the team had been caught then admitted to taking part in game-fixing.
“It happened yesterday. Nagkaroon ng konting investigation right now. Yung seven players na-involve sa game-fixing and we have strong evidence, they admitted it,” shared Pumaren.
“They’re out of the team.”
Given this, CEU only played seven student-athletes despite fielding eight in their win-or-go-home tilt against a loaded Go for Gold-CSB squad with the likes of Roosevelt Adams, Justin Gutang, Santi Santillan, and Gab Banal.
But last night, the suspected players visited Diouf and apologized.
“They went to my room and said I’m sorry.”
Diouf had been fasting because of Ramadan. Though he could take a break from basketball, he chose to gut it out with the Scorpions.
“Yung game na mahal natin, parang nababoy at parang hindi tama yun. Masyadong unfair sa mga gustong maglaro,” opined Pumaren about what happened.
“Ang hirap nga, even Malick feels bad.”
“I play for my teammates. I play for them, because I know they like me,” added Diouf.
The 6-foot-11 big man played his heart out against Go for Gold over 40 minutes, finishing with 25 points, 29 rebounds, and two blocks. More importantly, CEU scored a massive 84-74 upset to advance to the semifinals.
Photo by PBA Images
“I was even surprised that we came out as winners today,” gushed Pumaren.
“I’m happy for the boys, lalo na yung naglarong seven, lalo na kay Malick. He’s been our game changer sa league na ito.”
Overcome with emotion, Diouf tried to make light of the moment.
“I play forty minutes every time,” quipped Diouf, who averaged 31 minutes of game time prior to this contest.
“Today I cried because today I know we will play with only seven players.”
Diouf may have wept for his teammates and cried for his school. Still, he also made sure to be the one who will lift them back up once again.
