Even in the loss to UP, Mo Konateh’s 24-point, 10-rebound performance in 40 minutes convinced head coach Sean Chambers that the Tamaraws’ offense should lean more heavily on their 6-foot-10 anchor.
FEU head coach Sean Chambers has made it clear — the Tamaraws need to run their offense more through their towering big man Mo Konateh.
Despite the 89–75 loss to the defending champion UP Fighting Maroons, Konateh shone brightly with a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double — all while playing the entire 40 minutes on the floor.
“We do need to establish him more as a go-to guy and give him a little bit more touches down there. He was 10-for-14 from the field today, which was pretty amazing,” Chambers emphasized.
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It was Konateh’s highest-scoring game of UAAP Season 88 and his second straight contest logging more than 37 minutes.
Yet, the gentle giant from Gambia brushed off the workload with quiet determination.
“I just play whatever coach Sean wants me to play. He’s expecting a lot from me, and I just have to play hard,” he said.
FEU's Mo Konateh slams one home against UP in their UAAP men's basketball second-round clash | Photo: The UAAP
And play hard Konateh did.
With him leading the charge, FEU came out swinging in the third quarter and uncorked a 10–3 run to trim a once 13-point halftime deficit to six at 47–41.
But UP quickly regained control as Gani Stevens, Harold Alarcon, and Chicco Briones powered a 15-point swing that restored a comfortable 61-46 cushion with 2:47 left in the period.
From there, the Tamaraws couldn’t break the nine-point barrier as the Fighting Maroons quelled every FEU attempt.
Even so, Konateh’s relentless presence didn’t go unnoticed.
“Mo [Konateh] just continues to get better and better. He [played] 40 minutes and he’s not complaining and I’m really proud of him,” Chambers added.
As FEU heads back to the drawing board, eyes now turn to their next test against the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sunday, November 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
[ALSO READ: SCHEDULE, RESULTS | UAAP Season 88 basketball guide, where to watch, highlights, more]
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.