For helping UST end slump, Lee gains UAAP Player of the Week citation

MANILA, Philippines – Marvin Lee gave University of Santo Tomas the tonic it needed to end the Growling Tigers' losing skid in the UAAP Season 79 basketball tournament.

The former Far Eastern University high school standout had 22 points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals last Saturday to lead UST to a 73-69 win over National University on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum. 

Lee also buried five out of seven 3-point attempts on his way to helping the team end a five-game losing skid in the tournament. 

Lee, named as the ACCEL Quantum/3XVI-UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week on Monday, said the team has been working hard in their bid to end the losing streak as UST improved its record to 3-7. 

“I was surprised that I hit those shots. We have been working on our shots in practice and our hard work paid off,” said Lee. 

Lee actually had a poor shooting game in the first half, going 2-of-8 from the field, but UST coach Boy Sablan encouraged him to continue taking good shots in the second half. 

“I told Marvin to just take those shots. He has been practicing hard,” said Sablan. 

Lee beat University of the Philippines’ Javi Gomez De Liano and La Salle’s Jeron Teng for the award given by scribes from broadsheets, tabloids, and online portals covering the UAAP beat.

He is the first UST player to receive the award this season. 

Sablan said Lee’s contributions are a timely boost for the Tigers as they continue to find ways to improve this season. 

“The next assignment will be La Salle (on Sunday) and that’s our main focus,” said Sablan.