Marvin Lee of the UST Growling Tigers will forego his final playing year in the UAAP and plans to take his talents to the next level.
According to head coach Aldin Ayo, the veteran guard of the Tigers will head to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
"I advised Marvin to focus on the MPBL," Ayo said in Filipino after UST's game against the UP Fighting Maroons at the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup on Friday.
Lee will be part of the Manila Stars in the MPBL's upcoming Lakan Cup.
"We already have a lot of point guards," explained Ayo. "We have Renzo (Subido). We have Mark Nonoy. We have Mahloney Tarranza. Brent (Paraiso) also plays point. We have a lot of small guys."
"I told him that I don't want him sitting in his last year. So he will now pursue playing in the MPBL."
Last UAAP Season 81, Lee put up 14.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals. He had a signature performance against the UE Red Warriors where he scored a career-high 30 points, including eight 3-pointers.
The Tigers, however, missed the Final Four and finished with a 5-9 record in Ayo's first year at the helm. It was the Tigers' third straight season missing the postseason. In Lee's first year, UST went all the way to Finals before losing to the FEU Tamaraws.
Though Lee will no longer suit up in the upcoming UAAP season, Ayo said that UST will still honor his academic scholarship.
"He also has to finish his studies first. He still has a scholarship in UST," said Ayo.