20 October 2018
By Maxine Louise Lagman
Manila, Philippines – Without three of its best players, it looked as if Ateneo De Manila University was on the downside.
But Angelo Kouame rose up to the challenge and made up for the absence of its key players as he paved the way for Ateneo to defeat Far Eastern University, 82-62, in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ateneo was playing without Matt and Mike Nieto, who are still recovering from dengue, and Thirdy Ravena, who’s serving a one-game suspension.
Kouame powered the Blue Eagles from the get-go and scored back-to-back points to start a 9-2 run in the first quarter.
The Tams were able to tie it at 16-all, but the recruit from Cote d’Ivoire was only getting started. Kouame boosted the other Eagles to outrun FEU with an 18-6 run and lead by as much as 12 points in the second quarter, 34-22.
Ateneo never looked back from there as they kept a 20-point lead all throughout the game and clinched the much-needed win that kept them atop the standings with Adamson University with a 7-2 slate.
Kouame finished with a double-double record of 33 points and 27 rebounds, while Anton Asistio added 15 markers in the win.
On the other hand, Russell Escoto also had a 13-point, 13 rebound double-double, but it was not enough to keep FEU afloat as they dropped to a 5-4 win-loss record in the tournament.
The Scores:
ATENEO 82 – Kouame 33, Asistio 15, Tio 8, Wong 7, Mamuyac 6, Verano 4, Mendoza 3, Andrade 2, Belangel 2, Go 2, Black 0, Daves 0, Navarro 0.
FEU 62 – Escoto 13, Cani 13, Bienes 8, Parker 7, Comboy 6, Nunag 4, Eboña 3, Stockton 2, Tuffin 2, Orizu 2, Iñigo 2, Gonzales 0, Jopia 0, Ramirez 0.
QUARTER SCORES: 16-16, 34-22, 62-42, 82-62
Follow the writer on Twitter: @meanxi
Photo Gallery at https://www.facebook.com/Burnsports/
