Mo Konateh of the FEU Tamaraws during a UAAP Season 87 men's basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
MANILA, Philippines — Prioritizing consistency, Mo Konateh is determined to achieve more victories for Far Japanese College in the second round of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
Konateh grabbed a season-high 26 rebounds and dropped 13 points and four blocks as FEU escaped Adamson in overtime, 76-72, on Saturday at Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
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The Gambian center's personal record for rebounds was just one board away from tying league record holders Justine Baltazar of La Salle and former Ateneo MVP Ange Kouame, who tallied 27 rebounds in a game in 2017 and 2018, respectively. .
SCHEDULE: UAAP Basketball Season 87
“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 for many 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.
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FEU coach Sean Chambers was happy that Konateh, who he says is his mother's favorite player, has been reaping his hard work in practice every day.
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“I think my mom is probably watching right now in California, and I told Mo the other day, my mom said Mo is her favorite player,” Chambers joked. “He works hard. I am very proud of his progression. He's only going to get better. To think this is also the case, Mo is a rookie and honestly, I don't think we have anyone who works harder in practice than Mo. He's very humble. “He's very quiet.”
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READ: UAAP: Sean Chambers preaches warrior mentality to Tamaraws
Chambers, however, wants Konateh to be more ferocious for the rest of the season with the Tamaraws holding a 2-6 record.
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“I want him to be a little meaner, but he is who he is, but he's a great kid. “I am very happy for Mo and proud of his progression,” he said.
Konateh, the leading rebounder after the first round with 16.1 rebounds per game, attributed his growth to Chambers and his teammates, vowing to play even better in this round.
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“I have to thank our coaches and teammates for working hard all season, and every time they try to help us, they help me get better every day in practice,” Konateh said. “We are simply going to have to continue improving and we are going to achieve it. This second half is going to be different.”