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Eyeing decider vs Bulldogs, Golden Spikers told to ‘wake up’

SAN ANTONIO, United States — French phenomenon Victor Wembanyama said he was already looking to build on his outstanding debut season after formally receiving his NBA Rookie of the Year trophy on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time.)

Wembanyama said the coveted award represented the progress he and his San Antonio Spurs teammates had made throughout the season.

He added that the presentation ceremony, at San Antonio’s Scobee Planetarium attended by children from around his adopted city, was a perfect reflection of the warm welcome he had received in Texas.

“I think receiving this trophy here with fans, with kids, and everyone happy to be there, it’s also a good feel for me and a good representation of the love that we felt throughout the whole year,” he said.

Wembanyama was a unanimous selection as Rookie of the Year, taking all 99 first-place votes after a season in which he averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, a league-high 3.6 blocked shots and 1.2 steals per gam e.

Throughout his outstanding debut c ampaign, Wembanyama said, he was more focused on how the Spurs were developing as a team than any potential individual accolades.

“I had the responsibility towards my team and the challenge of staying dominant and helpful for the team and also staying heal thy,” he said. “To me it was bigger than that.”

The rebuilding Spurs finished with a 22-60 record, but Wembanyama said he was confident their emphasis on team effort rather than star power would see them rise in coming seasons.

“This is not enough,” he said. “I want to keep the momentum going and let everybody know they are part of the f amily and they are part of the story.”

MANILA, Philippines — With their backs against the wall, University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers head coach Odjie Mamon said he wants to challenge his wards to “wake up” as they face a 0-1 hole in the UAAP men’s volleyball championship.

UST dropped Game 1 against the National University Bulldogs in straight sets, 25-17, 26-24, 25-19 Saturday.

This is their first defeat against the Bulldogs this season.

With the win, NU is now within a win away from their fourth straight championship.

“I will challenge the players to wake up and have a sense of urgency during the match,” Mamon told reporters after the game.

“That will be my focus on the remaining days we have to prepare for Game 2,” he added.

The veteran coach said that he wants the team to focus on learning from the mistakes they committed in the first game.

“The main challenge for my players, always, is three-fold. They play their best, they learn and, they enjoy learning and the effort. The emphasis will be on number two, they fulfill the learning,” he stressed.

“We lost now, we learn from our mistakes and look at what we did right. That is what I will ask from them.”

UST will try to equalize the best-of-three championship series on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

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