PBA: Malick Diouf grateful despite TNT stint not pushing through

Malick Diouf looks on during Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals between TNT and Meralco at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Malick Diouf is just grateful to be given a chance to serve as an emergency import for TNT, even if that never got into fruition on Sunday.

The former University of the Philippines star was eyed to fill the void left by the injured Bol Bol for Game 3, but failed to secure the documents in a short amount of time with required government agencies closed for the weekend.

“I was really excited for it because I was saying that’s a great opportunity to show people we can play here. So, I was really excited to play this one game,” Diouf said after watching the Tropang 5G’s thrilling 77-75 win over the Meralco Bolts at Mall of Asia Arena.

Diouf said he got a call Friday night shortly after TNT’s 87-76 defeat, and took part in the team’s scrimmage the following day in the event he got cleared.

“I think they called me around Friday night, and they just told me if I’m available, [if] I’m still in the Philippines. I said, yeah, I’m still in the Philippines.

“And they told me if I can go to practice tomorrow. So, I said, yeah, sure, I can go to practice.”

READ: Chris McCullough set for PBA return as TNT import

Had the plan gotten the green light, the 6-foot-11 would have made history as the first former UAAP foreign student athlete to suit up as a PBA import.

Before Diouf, the closest was in the 2018 Governors’ Cup when Magnolia initially tapped ex-La Salle star Ben Mbala as a cover should Romeo Travis become unavailable due to an injury.

Despite missing out on a potential TNT stint, even if it is a one-off, Diouf is hoping that another chance could come in the immediate future.

“Just keep working out, keep playing and we’ll see,” he said.