Of all people, Will Gozum knows best that Clint Escamis is deserving of the Most Valuable Player plum.
After all, the two played alongside each other during their high school days in Mapua University before they parted ways to play for different teams.
Gozum decided to bring his act to Diliman when he suited up for University of the Philippines for two seasons while eventually, Escamis would don the red and white of University in the East.
Years later, they reunited at the NCAA stage, only this time as foes.
Escamis is now the protagonist of the Cardinals while Gozum is the main big man of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, which he steered to a finals appearance back in Season 98 while winning the MVP honors in the process.
With Escamis as the frontrunner for the top award this season, Gozum has nothing but praises for his former teammate, saying Escamis deserves the recognition for putting in the work.
"Well, deserve niya yun eh. Kita mo naman hard work niya, paano siya maglaro sa court, paano niya i-dedicate sarili niya para sa team niya," Gozum said.
"Sobrang proud ako na kahit papaano, kahit nakalaban ko si Clint ngayon, thankful ako. Proud ako na siya 'yung magiging MVP."
(He deserves it. You can see his hard work, how he plays on the court, how he dedicates himself to the team. I am very proud to play against Clint. I am proud that he is the MVP.)
Gozum, though, ended his collegiate career losing to his former team as the twice-to-beat Cardinals eked out a 77-67 win against his Blazers in their Final Four encounter on Tuesday.
He finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and two assists in the loss that saw Benilde exit the tournament.
"Isa lang masasabi ko. Talagang lumaban ang team na 'to, lumaban hanggang dulo," Gozum added.
"'Yung brotherhood ng team na to, 'di kami bumitaw, talagang sobrang thankful ako na nandito ako sa kalagayan ko and nakilala ko ang teammates ko na 'to."
(I can only say one thing -- this team really fought until the end. We did not go away from the brotherhood of this team. I'm really thankful I am in this place and I met my teammates.)
Despite the loss, Gozum wishes his old teammates and former coach Randy Alcantara as Mapua will now duke it out in the finals against either San Beda University or Lyceum of the Philippines University in bid to end the school's 32-year title drought.
"Juniors nung nag-champion kami, siya rin nando'n. Thankful ako na napunta rin ako sa sistema ni Coach Randy and happy ako na naturuan niya and sobrang nagagalingan ako sa kanya and deserve din nila magpunta sa Finals."
(We were champions in the juniors, he was with us. I am thankful that I was under Coach Randy and I am happy I was taught by him and I am really amazed and they deserve to be in the finals.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
