UAAP: Kouame drops 33 as Ateneo crushes FEU for share of no. 1

Despite the absence of its key cogs, Ateneo still dominated Far Eastern, 82-62, in their second round meeting in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.

The Blue Eagles played without suspended Thirdy Ravena and Mike and Matt Nieto, who are both down with dengue, but Angelo Kouame stepped up to help them tie Adamson at the top spot with 7-2 records.

Kouame had a monster performance with 33 points and 27 rebounds, 14 of which came under the offensive glass.

The Tamaraws, meanwhile, missed the services of Arvin Tolentino, who is serving a two-game ban, and slid to a third-place tie with La Salle at 5-4.

Ateneo avenged their 63-60 first round loss to the Tamaraws.

Both teams were still level after the first quarter at 16, but the Blue Eagles upped the pressure broke away, leading 34-22 heading into the break.

FEU managed to string together a 6-0 run at the start of the fourth to trim the deficit to 14, 62-48, but the Blue Eagles powered through down the stretch and regained stability a 21-point lead, 77-56, after Kouame’s bucket with 2:27 remaining.

Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga said the team just took what the FEU defense gave and that was to dump the ball inside to Kouame who had the space after the Tamaraws closed in on the Blue Eagles’ shooters.

“We took advantage of the opportunity because FEU locked down on our shooters and that left Ange wide open for offensive rebounds,” said Arespacochaga. “Credit not only goes to Ange but also to our shooters

Anton Asistio aided Ateneo’s offense with 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting.

Richard Escoto had a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double for the Tamaraws.

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