Two foreign reinforcements rose above everyone else in exciting week two of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 88 basketball tournaments.
After starting its campaign winless in three games, Far Eastern University finally cracked the win column, thanks to the heroics of the towering Mo Konateh of Gambia, who dominated inside the shaded area.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas went unbeaten in two games, as Nigeria’s Oma Onianwa made wonders on both ends for coach Haydee Ong and company, improving their record to 3-0.
Owing to their stellar performances for their respective schools, Konateh and Onianwa were named the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Players of the Week presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the period of October 1 to 5.
The 6-foot-10 Konateh starred as the Tamaraws avoided a 0-4 hole, scoring 18 points, 21 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a 64-58 triumph over Adamson University on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Konateh had a crucial block on Emmanuel Anabo while the Soaring Falcons were trying to claw their way back late in the game, 1:26 left in regulation.
‘That’s what we expect from him [Mo Konateh] and I was glad that he really stepped up today,’ FEU coach Sean Chambers said.
Konateh averaged 16.0 points, 15.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 block to win a tight vote among the scribes covering the collegiate beat. The Gambian was picked over Ateneo’s Dom Escobar and Shawn Tuano, La Salle’s Mike Phillips, UST’s Nic Cabañero, and UP’s Harold Alarcon.
Chambers said the Tamaraws ‘had their moments’ against previous opponents, including La Salle University, to which they lost by a slim margin, 72-74, on Wednesday at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Konateh put up 14 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and a steal against the Archers.
Onianwa, on the other hand, was unstoppable as she fueled the Growling Tigresses with an 18-point, 15-rebound showing in a 76-62 victory over defending women’s champion National University.
During that game, the Onianwa-led UST came up with a whopping 78 rebounds-43 from the offensive glass, compared to NU’s 37 boards in total and six offensive.
The Nigerian center then again had a fine performance of 17 points and six rebounds in just 19 minutes of play as the Tigresses overwhelmed University of the East with a 57-point shellacking, 99-42, on Saturday.
As they currently ride on an unbeaten run, Ong is already looking forward to Onianwa matching up against Ateneo’s back-to-back MVP and Gilas Pilipinas Women standout Kacey Dela Rosa, as well as FSA Sarah Makanjoula.
Onianwa, who had averages of 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in just over 22 minutes per game, won the vote unanimously over Cheska Apag of Adamson, Dela Rosa of Ateneo, Amyah Español of FEU, and Tin Cayabyab of NU.