Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Eyeing one last push in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, Go for Gold signed Paul Desiderio for the remainder of the conference.
Scratchers coach Charles Tiu welcomed the arrival of the cold-blooded scorer from University of the Philippines in hopes of improving the team’s even 4-4 slate.
“Paul will be a big boost to us offensively. He’s one of the best players in college basketball now,” he said as the Cebuano guard replaces JK Casiño in the roster.
Tiu shared he has been craving for Desiderio’s services when he was building up his Go for Gold squad, but coach Bo Perasol wanted all of his Fighting Maroons to focus on the team’s preparations for the upcoming UAAP Season 81.
“Paul was actually one of the first persons that I wanted to get when we formed the team, but he had some obligations to do for his school,” he said.
But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Tiu finally got the green light from Perasol just in time for the Scratchers to make their late rally to make it to the top six.
“I’m very grateful that coach Bo allowed him to play for us,” he said.
The 21-year-old Desiderio averaged 16.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in his fourth year in UP, leading the squad to a fifth place finish this past UAAP Season 80.
He last saw action in the D-League for Cafe France back in the 2017 Aspirants’ Cup.
Tiu said Desiderio is definitely a big addition to the team, but the problem will be his familiarity with the squad as he seeks to quickly blend in with J-Jay Alejandro, Matt Salem, ex-pro Jerwin Gaco, and young forward Justin Gutang.
“The challenge will be to integrate him to our team. It will not be easy,” he said. “We have a system on offense and defense that he has to adjust to in two practices only. It will be very tough and honestly, it is a bit of a gamble to make a change this late with short preparation time. But we need to win the last three games to make the playoffs and it’s all or nothing.”
Desiderio will make his debut for go for Gold on Monday against Wangs Basketball-Letran.