Desiderio: I’m just trying to help players achieve dreams

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) standout Paul Desiderio knows what it feels like to be a Green Lancer, to have the expectations of the rabid Lancer faithful weighing heavily on his every move.

This is why he understands how doubly hurt the University of the Visayas must feel having one of their own help lure two of their finest to Diliman to join the Maroons.

A former MVP in the Cesafi back in 2011 when he led the Baby Lancers to the juniors division title before eventually making his way to the University of the Philippines camp, Desiderio has been largely credited by both Jun Manzo and Leonard Santillan — the two Green Lancers who recently transferred to Diliman to try their luck out at making the Maroon roster — as a key factor in their move to Manila.

And while he understands the situation the Green Lancers now find themselves in, having lost their two best players, Desiderio sees nothing wrong with his involvement in the recruitment process.

“I feel sorry for my alma mater because two of their top players are gone but it is not my fault that they want to achieve their dreams which is to play in the big league like the UAAP,” Desiderio said in a talk with Cebu Daily News, in between his arduous preparations for class exams. “At first, it felt awkward because I wouldn’t be here had it not been for UV. But I just wanted to help them because they were also my teammates before. I didn’t force them to come here. They were the ones who wanted to come here and try out.”

Desiderio related that Santillan communicated with him last month that he was in Manila to try out for La Salle. However, Santillan did not feel right at the said school so Desiderio told him to try out in UP. Not long after, Manzo followed suit.

Though it remains to be seen if the two additions will make the squad pending negotiations with their mother school, Desiderio said he was happy to have them in Diliman.