WITH its back against the ropes, Ateneo got the job done against defending champion University of the Philippines and kept alive its hopes of regaining the crown last night.
Using 6-foot-11 naturalized Filipino center Ange Kouame as a battering ram, the Blue Eagles turned back the Fighting Maroons 65-55 in Game 2 of their best-of-3 showdown for the 85th UAAP basketball tournament crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kouame notched a game-high 19 points, on top of 11 rebounds and two assists for Ateneo, while Kai Ballungay bounced back from a scoreless effort the last time out with 15 markers and five boards.
Forthsky Padrigao also had 11 points and seven caroms as the Eagles atoned for a sorry 72-76 loss in the Big Dance’s opener four days ago.
More importantly, Ateneo forged a rubber match for the title on Monday, Dec. 19, also at the Big Dome.
Carl Tamayo paced UP with 15 points and three rebounds, while JD Cagulangan added 11 markers and four boards.
Earlier, Maroons center Malick Diouf bagged the MVP award after he averaged 10.79 points, 10.86 rebounds, 2.86 assists, 1.57 blocks, and 1.5 steals in the eliminations where the awards are based on. He amassed 73.9 statistical points.
“I just want to say thank you for this blessing. Thank you to my teammates but the job is not yet done,” the 6-foot-11 Senegalese Diouf said.
“I hope that in two or three hours, we will be celebrating in our school,” he added.
Completing the Mythical Five are Padrigao and teammate Dave Ildefonso, University of the East’s Luis Villegas, and Tamayo.
La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao was named Rookie of the Year.
