Ange Kouame. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Ange Kouame saved the final best as he was crowned Finals MVP after returning Ateneo to the lead in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The naturalized midfielder ended his UAAP career with three championships.
Kouame, who turned 25 on Thursday, completed Ateneo’s comeback with dethroned University of the Philippines, 75-68, in Game 3 win-all on Monday in front of 21,814 fans.
The 6-foot-10 man solved the problem himself, scoring 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 saves as Ateneo won his fourth title in five seasons and finished 12th overall.
He averaged 17.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 saves in finals to avenge Ateneo’s heartbreaking loss in the Season 84 final in May of this year. when he won the MVP of the Season.
Ateneo lost Game 1, 72-66, despite Kouame’s performance of 15 points and 10 rebounds. The ace center equalized the series in Game 2 leading their 65-55 win with 19 points, 11 goals, three steals, three blocks and two assists last week.
Kouame suffered a partial ACL tear and a knee meniscus strain last June. He struggled in the knockout stages and played a number of games in limited time but he let everything go in their second final against UP.
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