Stevens seen as the perfect player to fill in for Diouf after Season 86

Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Former UE big man Gani Stevens will suit up for UP starting UAAP Season 87. UAAP Media.' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/07/20230607-gani-stevens.jpg' ><figcaption>Former UE big man Gani Stevens will suit up for UP starting UAAP Season 87. UAAP Media.</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- University of the Philippines once again made a huge splash after announcing its recruitment of Gani Stevens on Tuesday.<ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/06/23/uaap-gani-stevens-transfers-to-up'>UAAP: Gani Stevens transfers to UP</a></li></ul>And while the Filipino-American big still needs to finish his one-year residency and sit out the incoming UAAP men’s basketball season, Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde already liked what he saw from the former UE Red Warrior.<ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/06/23/alter-makes-filoil-debut-as-up-downs-st-clare'>Alter makes FilOil debut as UP downs St. Clare</a></li></ul>“Nakita naman na natin siyang mag laro last season,” said Monteverde of Stevens, who posted numbers of 9.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per contest in Season 85.“Siyempre, you’re going to be thinking about Season 87. Especially last year ni Malick Diouf, so he will be a perfect replacement for Malick,” he added. The graduating Diouf, who was hailed as last season’s MVP after putting up averages of 10.79 points, 10.86 rebounds, 2.86 assists, and 1.57 blocks per game, will still be leaving a huge gap even with the squad’s already-loaded front line. <ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/21/22/uaap-malick-diouf-up-eye-redemption-in-season-86'>UAAP: Malick Diouf, UP eye redemption in Season 86</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/14/22/ups-diouf-crowned-uaap-mvp-ahead-of-game-2'>UP's Diouf crowned UAAP MVP ahead of Game 2</a></li></ul>This is why Monteverde emphasized the importance of being able to add Stevens to their roster after this season.“Talagang kailangan namin yung ganung players. The way I see it, talagang bagay na bagay siya para sa team namin.”Aside from Stevens, UP also welcomed Francis Lopez, NCAA Juniors MVP Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate, Joshua Coronel, Sean Alter, Reyland Torres, and Janjan Felicilda.Also in the mix for Season 87 is 2022 no.1 ranked high school hooper Jared Bahay and San Beda Red Cubs’ star Chris Hubilla. <ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/09/23/uaap-up-adds-chris-hubilla-to-recruiting-class'>UAAP: UP adds Chris Hubilla to recruiting class</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/30/23/uaap-top-high-school-star-jared-bahay-commits-to-up'>UAAP: Top high school star Jared Bahay commits to UP</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/20/23/uaap-in-up-jared-bahay-hopes-to-realize-his-full-potential'>UAAP: In UP, Jared Bahay hopes to realize his full potential</a></li></ul>

<ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/06/23/alter-makes-filoil-debut-as-up-downs-st-clare'>Alter makes FilOil debut as UP downs St. Clare</a></li></ul>“Nakita naman na natin siyang mag laro last season,” said Monteverde of Stevens, who posted numbers of 9.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per contest in Season 85.“Siyempre, you’re going to be thinking about Season 87. Especially last year ni Malick Diouf, so he will be a perfect replacement for Malick,” he added. The graduating Diouf, who was hailed as last season’s MVP after putting up averages of 10.79 points, 10.86 rebounds, 2.86 assists, and 1.57 blocks per game, will still be leaving a huge gap even with the squad’s already-loaded front line. <ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/21/22/uaap-malick-diouf-up-eye-redemption-in-season-86'>UAAP: Malick Diouf, UP eye redemption in Season 86</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/14/22/ups-diouf-crowned-uaap-mvp-ahead-of-game-2'>UP's Diouf crowned UAAP MVP ahead of Game 2</a></li></ul>This is why Monteverde emphasized the importance of being able to add Stevens to their roster after this season.“Talagang kailangan namin yung ganung players. The way I see it, talagang bagay na bagay siya para sa team namin.”Aside from Stevens, UP also welcomed Francis Lopez, NCAA Juniors MVP Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate, Joshua Coronel, Sean Alter, Reyland Torres, and Janjan Felicilda.Also in the mix for Season 87 is 2022 no.1 ranked high school hooper Jared Bahay and San Beda Red Cubs’ star Chris Hubilla. <ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/09/23/uaap-up-adds-chris-hubilla-to-recruiting-class'>UAAP: UP adds Chris Hubilla to recruiting class</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/30/23/uaap-top-high-school-star-jared-bahay-commits-to-up'>UAAP: Top high school star Jared Bahay commits to UP</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/20/23/uaap-in-up-jared-bahay-hopes-to-realize-his-full-potential'>UAAP: In UP, Jared Bahay hopes to realize his full potential</a></li></ul>

<ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/06/23/uaap-gani-stevens-transfers-to-up'>UAAP: Gani Stevens transfers to UP</a></li></ul>And while the Filipino-American big still needs to finish his one-year residency and sit out the incoming UAAP men’s basketball season, Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde already liked what he saw from the former UE Red Warrior.

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Former UE big man Gani Stevens will suit up for UP starting UAAP Season 87. UAAP Media.' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/07/20230607-gani-stevens.jpg' ><figcaption>Former UE big man Gani Stevens will suit up for UP starting UAAP Season 87. UAAP Media.</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- University of the Philippines once again made a huge splash after announcing its recruitment of Gani Stevens on Tuesday.

University of the Philippines once again made a huge splash after announcing its recruitment of Gani Stevens on Tuesday.

Stevens seen as the perfect player to fill in for Diouf after Season 86 | ABS-CBN News

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Stevens seen as the perfect player to fill in for Diouf after Season 86

Stevens seen as the perfect player to fill in for Diouf after Season 86