Ex-UP superstar Desiderio retires from the PBA

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

One of the biggest stars the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons produced is calling it a career in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Paul Desiderio, UP’s Mr. “Atin To” and Blackwater Bossing’s two-way shooting guard, decided to retire from the PBA and was confirmed by their team owner Dioceldo Sy.

Desiderio is yet to make his PBA return after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) three months ago which ruled him out of the 2022-2023 Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup conferences.

However, things got worse for the former UP superstar after his name got involved in the recent three-team trade that sent skipper Calvin Oftana to the TNT Tropang Giga in exchange for Troy Rosario.

Blackwater then dealt the injured Desiderio and big man Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser to the NLEX Road Warriors which made the trade official.

Days after the trade package was approved, the PBA governing body amended the proposal and replaced Desiderio with two second-round picks.

Desiderio was Blackwater’s key spark off the bench before getting injured and left the conference averaging 7.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per contest.

During his rehabilitation process, an unfortunate issue put his name in a bad light after his spouse Agatha Uvero revealed the physical abuse Desiderio committed during their relationship.

“For now I will end my PBA career and magpa-galing sa injury ko sa Cebu. Focus na muna talaga ako sa healing ko at magsimula na ng bago kong puwedeng gawin,” said Desiderio in a report published by Spin.ph.