MANILA, Philippines – There was always going to be a lot of pressure placed on Paul Desiderio's shoulders as he is set to become the unquestioned leader of the University of the Philippines (UP) when they take to the court in the UAAP Season 80 tournament.

Desiderio led UP in scoring in Season 79 at 15.4 points per game while also being one of the league's top rebounding guards, with an average of 7.1 caroms per game.

His performance was one of the key reasons for UP's resurgence: The Fighting Maroons finished with a 5-9 record in the tournament, their best finish in more than a decade.

With the graduation of Jett Manuel, Desiderio becomes UP's leader and top scoring option next year. The pressure he feels only increased, however, upon finding out that he was included in the UAAP's Mythical Team for Season 79.

• Athlete of the Day: UP's Paul Desiderio

Desiderio finished the tournament with 55.14 statistical points, good for fourth in the league. His achievement marked the first time that a UP player has been included in the Mythical Team since Marvin Cruz also bagged the honor in 2006.

"Masaya ako," Desiderio said Monday. "Pero parang hindi pa ako satisfied, kasi gusto ko na bago man lang ako umalis ng UP, mapasok namin sa Final Four 'yung team."

The Cebuano guard admits his reaction to the news was mixed – Desiderio was, of course, thrilled to be part of the team, but at the same time, he immediately felt the burden that he already carries grow even heavier.

"Siguro, kailangan ko pa mag-work hard, kasi ang expectations talaga sa UP, lalaki. So kailangan kong mag-trabaho pa," he said.

"Talagang pressure na," he continued. "Simula ngayon, nape-pressure na ako."

Desiderio revealed that as early as now, he has been receiving text messages from supporters who say: "Uy, dapat Final Four (next year)."

"Hindi ko na iniisip 'yun," he said.

Manuel, who finished in eighth place in the statistical points race and just missed the Mythical Five cut, said he has been telling Desiderio to expect even more pressure to come.

"He can't just think that people will (still) take him for granted," Manuel pointed out.

"He deserves to be there, (but) he has to work hard to get better," he stressed.

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