Reigning NCAA Seniors Basketball Most Valuable Player Will Gozum will play out his final year of collegiate eligibility with College of Saint Benilde.
Gozum, 24, pondered on going full-time with MPBL team Quezon before joining the 2023 PBA Rookie Draft, which would forgo his final playing year.
The 6-foot-4 forward had a change of plans, though. Instead, he decided to have one last run with the Blazers, head coach Charles Tiu confirmed to Tiebreaker Times.
“I’m happy that he decided to continue playing for us. We still have a lot of unfinished business, and I guess it’s his priority right now to win a championship over any individual award since he’s pretty much achieved them,” said Tiu.
“Ang una kong inisip yung coaches here dahil alam nila how I play and what I need to work on para mas gumaling pa ako as a player,” added Gozum.
“Final year ko na rin, sayang din if di ko laruin.”
He will still throw his name in the draft if the NCAA allows seniors to do so like before. Gozum will also wait on possible offers from overseas teams.
“Right now, di ko pa iniisip. Talagang focus ako sa final year, gustong-gusto ko mag-champion,” Gozum said.
Gozum has been a pivotal piece in the rebuilding of CSB.
In NCAA Season 98, he powered the Blazers to their first finals appearance in 20 years with averages of 16.73 points, 9.41 rebounds, and 1.14 blocks per game.
However, a disqualifying foul during Game 3 of the Finals will not allow Gozum to earn MVP honors in Season 99.
Gozum will serve his one-game suspension when CSB takes on Lyceum of the Philippines University on opening day.
Still, it does not matter for Gozum as he is looking to end a two-decade-long championship drought.
“Naisip ko rin yun pero ngayon kasi lahat back-to-zero kami. Trabaho kaming lahat talaga. Alam na namin yung feeling kaya mas magiging ready kami ngayon,” Gozum stressed.
Gozum is currently recovering from a fractured left wrist he sustained last April 28 against Bulacan.
“We have a long way to go, and he will still be out for a while, but having him will definitely help us,” said Tiu.
