Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

ADMU

How did Angelo Kouame become the first-ever foreign Rookie of the Year?


At the start of the season, many thought that the race for the Rookie of the Year would be between UST’s CJ Cansino and NU’s Dave Ildefonso.

But as the season progressed, it became clear there would be a runaway winner.

Ateneo Blue Eagles rookie Angelo Kouame was way above his batch, ending the elimination round with 76.21 statistical points – far higher than Cansino (57.30) and Ildefonso (50.50).

The 20-year-old is the first-ever foreign student-athlete in league history to win the crown.

But why is it so?

For starters, the Rookie of the Year award is given to ‘true’ freshmen who graduated during the calendar year. This was the case in UAAP Season 79, when Jerrick Ahanmisi of Adamson was declared ineligible to win the award, as he had graduated his secondary studies back in 2015 — a full year before the season started.

In Kouame’s case, he graduated from Multiple Intelligence International School in Quezon City last summer.

Compared to other FSAs, the 6-foot-10 Ivorian did not need to undergo residency, as he was fresh off high school.

However, Kouame could not be part of the All-UAAP team even if he ended the regular season second in the Most Valuable Player race. The league has a rule that only one FSA is allowed to be part of the Mythical Team.

#ReadMore  UAAP shifting to FIVB style awarding for Season 81 onward
Written By


You May Also Like

Basketball

Strong Group-Philippines capped another impressive run in the 2025 William Jones Cup, sweeping all eight of its games to retain the crown and secure...

Basketball

Already assured of a second straight championship, Strong Group still brought the fireworks, trouncing the United Arab Emirates, 87-62, to complete a clean sweep...

Basketball

Strong Group-Philippines begins its title defense in the 43rd William Jones Cup tonight — and it’s diving straight into the fire. The reigning champions...

Basketball

Andre Roberson is back to lead the charge for Strong Group-Pilipinas as the team aims to defend its crown in the 44th William Jones...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Barangay Ginebra explored all options as it scampered for possible replacements given the uncertainty surrounding Justin Brownlee heading into Game 4 of...

ADMU

Scoring 34 points or more in a UAAP women’s volleyball game is a rare feat — so rare that it’s happened only five times...

Basketball

Strong Group-Philippines stormed into the semifinals of the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship with a commanding 100-63 victory over Sharjah SC on Friday morning...

Basketball

Strong Group-Philippines completed a sweep of Group A in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship after overpowering Amman United, 84-75, on Thursday morning (Manila...

Advertisement