Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

ADMU

Ateneo much tougher this time around with Kouame, says Olsen Racela


For the fourth straight year, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and the Ateneo de Manila University will face off in the Final Four. And it will be the second time Olsen Racela meets the Blue Eagles in the post-season.

However, last season’s Ateneo team – which needed the heroics of Isaac Go to make it to the Finals – now have a huge addition. And that is none other than 6-foot-10 Ivorian student-athlete Angelo Kouame.

“Ateneo is a very tough team. I always bring back last year’s Final Four, pero last year wala si Kouame eh.

“Yun ang headache namin ngayon eh. But we’ll see what we can do. We will prepare hard for this game and prepare the boys hard, and we’ll see what happens,” said second-year Tamaraws head coach Olsen Racela.

Last October 20, Racela saw first-hand how good Kouame. Back then, the soon-to-be-named Rookie of the Year dropped 33 points and 27 rebounds to lead Ateneo to an 82-62 romp.

But Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin believes that his team is more than just Kouame and that anyone can erupt at any given moment.

“That’s his viewpoint. I’d like to think that we have a roster that could play good basketball when Ange isn’t there, like when we played La Salle,” shared the reigning Collegiate Press Corps Coach of the Year.

“All of my players are key players, in my opinion. He has his own opinions.

“We don’t try to feature Ange, we don’t try to hide anybody else. We expect everybody on our roster to step up and make the plays that they’re called upon to make, and do the job they’re called upon to do,” he added.

#ReadMore  Angel Quingco dominates as La Salle snaps UST streak

Still, Racela and his staff will do whatever they can to devise a plan to stop Kouame from repeating the feat.

“We’ll see what we can do.”

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

De La Salle University erupted for a scorching third quarter to keep its unbeaten streak alive, while National University locked in the final UAAP...

AdU

La Salle kept its immaculate record intact in the PlayTime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive, steamrolling Far Eastern...

Basketball

When one door closes, another opens. That’s certainly the case for both Zain Mahmood and Far Eastern University. Just two months after Veejay Pre...

AdU

Adamson University-ARQ Builders escaped with a heart-pounding 86-84 overtime win against University of Santo Tomas-Weng Burs Apartelle to capture the 2025 Mayor Kirk Asis...

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...

Advertisement