By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
CURRENTLY sharing the top spot in the standings of Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles shoot for solo leadership and their third win in a row when they square off with the University of the East Red Warriors today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
At joint first place with the Adamson Falcons with a 7-2 record, Ateneo returns to the UAAP floor against tailending UE (1-8) at 2 p.m. with the end view of emerging on top and creating some separation from the chasing pack.
The Eagles are fresh from their 82-62 rout of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Oct. 21 which saw big man Angelo Kouame take center stage with eye-popping numbers of 33 points and 27 rebounds in 33 minutes on the floor.
Undermanned with the Nieto brothers, Matt and Mike, out with injuries and Thirdy Ravena serving his one game league suspension, the Cameroonian player stepped up for his team, dominating the Tamaraws.
Kouame scored 11 of his total point output in a key second quarter where the Eagles soared and left their foes and never looked back after.
The Ateneo center’s 30-20 output was the first since former King Eagle Rabeh Al-Hussaini’s 33 points and 20 rebounds in 2008.
Kouame’s 33 points also were the highest for an Ateneo player since Kiefer Ravena’s 38 in UAAP Season 77 and the 27 rebounds were two more than Adamson’s Papi Sarr (25) in Season 79.
His stellar performance rightfully earned him UAAP player of the week honors, beating out University of the Philippines’ Juan Gomez de Liano.
Also finishing in double digits in Ateneo’s win over FEU was Anton Asistio with 15 points.
Meanwhile, looking to halt the Eagles while keeping their slim playoff hopes alive are the Warriors, who have lost four straight.
The latest of the defeats of UE came at the hands of UP, 94-81, on Oct. 21.
The Recto Avenue base Warriors competed well in the opening half against the Maroons but just could not sustain it the rest of the way to slump to another defeat.
Alvin Pasaol had 30 points and nine boards for UE with Philip Mañalang adding 15 points and seven assists, but they proved to be not enough to overcome UP which got a triple-double of 15 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists from Gomez de Liano.
Playing in the second game at 4 p.m., meanwhile, is UP (4-4) against FEU (5-4).

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