UAAP: FSAs Konateh, Onianwa stand tall for FEU, UST as Players of the Week

FEU’s Mo Konateh. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — A pair of foreign student-athletes stood out to rise above everyone in the second week of UAAP Season 88 basketball.

After starting its campaign winless in three games, Far Eastern University (FEU) finally cracked the win column, sending a timely message to the rest of the league that it is still here to contend, thanks to the heroics of the towering Mo Konateh, who dominated inside the shaded area.

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas (UST) remained unharmed in its two-game run for the week, as Oma Onianwa made wonders on both ends for coach Haydee Ong and company, improving their record to 3-0.

Owing to their stellar performances for their respective schools, Konateh and Onianwa were named the Collegiate Press Corps' UAAP Players of the Week presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the period of October 1 to 5.

Konateh helped the Tamaraws avoid a 0-4 hole with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting inside the arc, a sizeable 21-rebound output, three assists, and two blocks in their 64-58 triumph over Adamson University on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

While he grabbed the much-needed boards all game long, Konateh found a crucial block on Emmanuel Anabo while the Soaring Falcons were trying to claw their way back late in the game, 1:26 left in regulation, to keep the gritty Adamson side at bay.

"That's what we expect from him [Mo Konateh] and I was glad that he really stepped up today," FEU coach Sean Chambers said, praising the 6-foot-10 Gambian.

He averaged 16.0 points, 15.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 block to win a highly contested vote among the scribes covering the collegiate beat.

Konateh, last season's Mythical Team member, bested Ateneo de Manila University's Dom Escobar and Shawn Tuano, De La Salle University's Mike Phillips, UST's Nic Cabañero, and University of the Philippines' Harold Alarcon for the citation.

As Chambers coined it, the Tamaraws "had their moments" against their past opponents, including La Salle, to which they lost by a slim margin, 72-74, on Wednesday at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.

By then, Konateh still put up big numbers of 14 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

UST’s Oma Onianwa. Photo from UAAP Media.Onianwa, on the other hand, was unstoppable as she fueled the Growling Tigresses with an 18-point, 15-rebound showing en route to a 76-62 victory over defending women's hoops champion National University (NU) — a much-anticipated finals rematch that ultimately became a lopsided encounter in their favor on Wednesday right inside their España campus.

During that game, the Onianwa-led UST overpowered the boards with a whopping 78 rebounds — a staggering 43 from the offensive glass, compared to NU's 37 boards in total and six offensive.

The Nigerian center then again had a fine performance of 17 points and six rebounds in just 19 minutes of play as the Tigresses overwhelmed University of the East with a 57-point shellacking, 99-42, on Saturday to defend home turf anew.

As they currently ride on an unbeaten run, Ong is already looking forward to Onianwa matching up against Ateneo's back-to-back MVP and Gilas Pilipinas Women standout Kacey Dela Rosa, as well as FSA Sarah Makanjoula.

"Of course, very important si Oma. At least ngayon, we're not undersized na against kina Kacey [dela Rosa] tsaka [Sarah] Makanjoula," said Ong.

"With the help of Oma, at least we can do one-on-one defense against Kacey or meron pa rin kaming itu-tweak sa depensa, but Oma will be a big help against Kacey sa Saturday." the UST tactician added.

Onianwa, who had averages of 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in just over 22 minutes per game, garnered a unanimous nod over Cheska Apag of Adamson, Dela Rosa of Ateneo, Amyah Español of FEU, and Tin Cayabyab of NU.