Mo Konateh’s steady rise has given Far Eastern University another reason to believe, and head coach Sean Chambers is seeing the fruits of their faith in the Gambian big man.
Konateh dominated inside with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks in 33 minutes and 20 seconds as the Tamaraws overwhelmed Ateneo de Manila University, 93-70. The win extended their winning streak to four games in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Now in his third playing year with FEU, the 6-foot-10 center has developed into a formidable presence in the paint. And he drew high praise from Chambers, who believes Konateh has emerged as the league’s best foreign student-athlete (FSA).
For Chambers, the convincing victory was not just about extending their winning run. It was also a test of whether the Tamaraws could consistently execute their system while giving Konateh another opportunity to showcase how far he has come.
“Before the game today, in the locker room, the message was: Are we who we think we are? If we are, we are going to approach the game in a business-like fashion and continue to execute and do the things we do,” said the current Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach.
“And with that, is Mo who we think he is? And I think he’s the best FSA here. He’s just continuing to get better from three years ago to what he’s doing now.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Chambers pointed to Konateh’s growing versatility as evidence of his continued development, particularly his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket rather than rely solely on his size and presence near the rim.
“You saw him a while ago put the ball on the ground and go for a layup… There are still some areas for improvement, but he has really improved his game. He’s one of the smartest players out there. I’m really proud of Mo, Kirby (Mongcopa), and the rest of the team.”
The FEU mentor also compared Konateh to his former Alaska Aces teammate Poch Juinio, highlighting the center’s transformation from a raw prospect into a reliable frontline anchor.
Chambers saw the potential in Konateh when he first joined the program and remained patient as the big man worked on his game. That investment is now paying dividends, with the center continuing to demonstrate not only improved skills but also an eagerness to absorb and apply his coach’s instructions.
“What I’m telling you is that what you see from Mo is what he does in practice: he works so hard, he works on his game. You tell him to do one thing, and he’ll do it in a game,” said the 61-year-old PBA legend.
“You remind him, and he’ll continue to do it in a game. A week later, from a game, we started telling him to rim protect and draw cover because we were short out there at first, and I didn’t have to remind him for the rest of the game. That’s when he started affecting the game — when he started to post up and go to the rim.”
Despite FEU’s impressive run, Chambers and his squad know that much work remains as they seek to end the program’s Final Four drought and return to the postseason for the first time since Season 84.
The Tamaraws will look to carry their momentum into their next assignment against University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
For Konateh, the formula remains simple: continue working hard, trust the system, and let the results follow.
“We’re working hard in practice every time. Coach Sean is pushing us,” said Konateh. “We practice hard; we’re gonna play hard. That’s what Coach Sean told us. We just have to play our game and increase our offense… and then the results will come out.”
