For the last two years, the UAAP had tried to find ways of stopping the De La Salle University Green Archers’ Cameroonian student-athlete Ben Mbala.
Standing at 6-foot-8, Mbala did not play like a usual big man. He had the same strength but was faster than any big man out there.
During that time, the two-time Most Valuable Player only tasted defeat in the UAAP against two teams. There was that one time the UP Fighting Maroons stunned the Green Archers, and there were the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
The Blue Eagles ended up having the most successful overall record against an Mbala-powered La Salle squad with a 4-4 slate – including a championship win during the UAAP Season 80 Men’s Basketball Finals.
In Season 81 however, there has been a reversal of fortunes. Now, it is the Blue Eagles who have a dominant big man in Angelo Kouame.
When the Blue Eagles took on the Green Archers for the first time this season, La Salle did not have the services of former New Zealand youth team member Taane Samuel, as he had a Jones fracture in his left knee.
And it proved to be the difference, as Kouame dominated the contest.
“Well, it was an advantage just cause they (La Salle) had no import,” said fourth-year Blue Eagle Thirdy Ravena.
“I feel bad for La Salle ’cause Samuel isn’t healthy,” added head coach Tab Baldwin.
“They don’t have an import but they still have a very strong inside presence with Justine [Baltazar] and Santi [Santillan] and I thought [Brandon] Bates did a good job when he was out there.”
The 6-foot-10 Kouame tallied 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, 13 rebounds, and five blocks in just 27 minutes of game time. But beyond the statline, the presence of the Ivorian student-athlete stifled La Salle’s offense, ending up as a game-high plus-24 in the contest that saw a lopsided 71-55 victory.
“Ange had a very good game, very active game. Ange has got great hands defensively, he gets a lot of deflections,” shared Baldwin about Kouame. “He’s disruptive, he changes shots, so it’s nice to have a guy like that that anchors your defense. He gave us a lot offensively too.
“I’m pleased for him.”
But Kouame and Mbala are two different players. The 19-year-old uses his length well while has added a long-range shot earlier in his career.
“Ange is a really good player, but I don’t wanna compare him to Ben, I don’t wanna compare him to anyone. He’s his own player,” said Ravena.
Even with Kouame posting excellent numbers, there is still a long way to go for the big man if his coaches are to be asked.
“We’ve got a combination of the talent of this kid, plus his eagerness to learn. I think it’s coach Tab’s system also. He’s hitting threes going coast to coast,” opined assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga.
“We’re training him to be the best that we can be.”
And the rest of the league must be preparing this early in hopes of catching up to the moment Kouame reaches his peak.
