FEU Tamaraws’ Mo Konateh during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketballl game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines —Putting a premium on consistency, Mo Konateh is determined to deliver more wins for Far Eastern University in the second round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Konateh hauled a season-high 26 rebounds and dropped 13 points and four blocks as FEU escaped Adamson in overtime, 76-72, on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Gambian center’s personal-high on rebounds was just a board shy of tying league record holders Justine Baltazar of La Salle and Ateneo’s former MVP Ange Kouame, who both tallied 27 rebounds in a game in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball
“I have to be consistent in every game to help our team win or play better every day. I have to be consistent every day, because Coach Sean [Chambers] put me inside a lot of minutes. I have to play a lot, so I have to be consistent to do all the things he needs me to do,” said Konateh, who played 43 minutes.
FEU coach Sean Chambers was happy that Konateh, whom he says is his mother’s favorite player, has been reaping his hard work in practice every day.
“I think my mother’s probably watching right now in California, and I told Mo the other day, my mom said that Mo is her favorite player,” quipped Chambers. “He works hard. I’m so proud of his progression. He’s only going to get better. To think that this is also, Mo’s a rookie, and honestly, I don’t think we have anybody that works harder in practice than Mo. He’s so humble. He’s so quiet.”
READ: UAAP: Sean Chambers preaches warrior mentality to Tamaraws
Chambers, though, wants Konateh to be fiercer for the remainder of the season with the Tamaraws holding a 2-6 record.
“I want him to be just a little bit meaner, but he is who he is, but he’s such a great kid. I’m just so happy for Mo, and proud of his progression,” he said.
Konateh, the rebounding leader after the first round with 16.1 rebounds per game, credited his growth to Chambers and his teammates, vowing to play even better this round.
“I have to thank our coaches and our teammates for working hard this whole season, and every time they try to help us, they help me to get better every day in practice,” said Konateh. “We’re just going to have to keep getting better, and we’re going to make it. It’s going to be different this second half.”