UST Growling Tigers’ Mo Tounkara during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game against La Salle Green Archers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Mo Tounkara admitted emotions got the better of him during his fourth-quarter ejection from the University of Santo Tomas’ gallant stand against defending champion La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Tounkara got his second technical foul in the final 3:38 mark of the fourth quarter for taunting Mike Phillips. UST was able to force overtime only for La Salle to regain momentum and escape with a 94-87 win on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Malian center, who had 14 points and eight rebounds, was slapped with his first technical with 5:42 left in the opening period after flexing his muscles on Henry Agunanne.
READ: UAAP: La Salle sweats out OT win over UST to push streak to 5
Tounkara took the blame as the Growling Tigers missed his presence in crunch time.
“Man, I was too much in the game. Sometimes I have to control myself. I think, if I were there we would’ve had a much [better] chance to win this game. I need to control myself sometimes. I got too much in the game,” said Tounkara, who hugged the Phillips brothers before the reporters’ scrum.
WATCH: Mo Tounkara on getting ejected. #UAAPSeason87 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/nkEqkDYQgP
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But he remained proud of his team after Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao continued to push La Salle to its limits even without him.
“That really shows that we have a pretty good team this year. We keep growing and keep getting better every day. That’s what I can see from the team. I think through our preparation we’re going to do much better and I’m looking forward to our next five games,” Tounkara said.
UST had submitted its appeal for the ejection. Tounkara will be slapped with a one-game suspension and be disqualified for any individual awards this season if the team’s plea is denied.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball
Tounkara is hoping avoid suspension as the Tigers will host their first home game against the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Saturday.
“We’re at home, man. You know, its gonna be fun. We’re ready to give all our best there to win the next game since we got two losses against UP and La Salle. We have to win the next game if we want to get our spot to the Final Four, we have to,” said Tounkara as UST dropped to 4-5 after losing back-to-back games to open the second round.
Regardless of the appeal’s result, Tounkara vows to be better after his ejection.
“Sometimes, I get too much in the game but I have to control myself. It’s only about basketball but that’s too much personal. I have to control myself in these kinds of situations,” he said.