COMPARED to his past two championships, this UAAP Season 85 men's basketball crown is just far more sweeter for Ange Kouame.
"It's the best season that I've ever had in my life," said the naturalized player who served as the catalyst in Ateneo's 75-68 win over University of the Philippines in the final game of the season.
For Kouame, the way that the Blue Eagles rebuilt their roster after losing SJ Belangel, among others, and still reclaimed the throne made the grind all the more gratifying.
[READ: Kouame to undergo surgery for partial ACL tear]
"I'm really happy about this season compared to the previous ones, because the previous ones, I joined the team but they already had something there," he said, pointing out to the likes of Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, Mike and Matt Nieto, Gian Mamuyac, who paved the way for Ateneo's three straight crowns from 2017 to 2019.
Yet with those figures gone, Kouame was thrusted into the spotlight to lead the team alongside transferee Dave Ildefonso and holdover BJ Andrade.
Although the past season ended in heartbreak, this season was all about redemption.
"We rebuilt this team," said the 6-foot-11 big man who put together a 19-point, 12-rebound, and 4-block statline to cop the Finals MVP trophy.
Unsurprisingly, Kouame only had one man to thank - coach Tab Baldwin.
"[Coach Tab] rebuilt this team for real, and I'm surprised that you guys still think about his ability to coach! He's the best coach I ever had," he said of his mentor.
"Put respect on his name. Did you see our team at the beginning of the season? In the preseason? A lot of people were talking so much smack about our team," Kouame added. "But look at us now and look at where we are. It's because of him and we really appreciate everything about him because for us, he's the best coach ever."
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