FROM España Boulevard to Spain.
Reigning UAAP MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo has left University of Santo Tomas, opting to bring his act to a division 4 team in Spain due to the uncertainties brought about by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.
“For the past three years, I have been turning down so many offers in Europe,” Chabi Yo was quoted as saying by The Varsitarian, the official student publication of UST.
“My plan was to finish my playing years in UST, but since COVID came, it destroyed everyone’s plan,” he added.
After moving to the Growling Tigers from Colegio de San Lorenzo in 2018, the hulking Beninese center promptly made a big impact for UST in what turned out to be his one and only season in 2019.
The 6-foot-6 Chabi Yo led the Tigers to the finals of the last UAAP cage wars where he averaged 17.4 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 1.39assists per game en route to bagging the MVP plum. But UST lost to Ateneo in the Big Dance via a sweep.
Chabi Yo, 25, thanked UST for the love and support he got while donning the black and gold.
“I hope you guys will understand me. Thank you all and thanks to the UST community for the love and support,” he said. “I wish all the best to the team and also good luck for the upcoming season.”
Six-foot-8 Senegalese big man Adama Faye, formerly of National University, is set to take over as new Tigers import.
Citing the 100 percent vaccination rollout among its student-athletes, the UAAP is eyeing to launch its 84th season early next year.
