MO Tounkara is praying that his impending suspension will be overturned especially with University of Santo Tomas playing at home this Saturday against Ateneo.
“At home, it’s gonna be fun,” he said.
UST has already lodged an appeal to the UAAP Commissioner’s Office on the case of Tounkara, who was ejected for incurring two technical fouls in their 94-87 overtime loss to La Salle on Wednesday.
An ejection means an automatic suspension, although the league has introduced an appeals system for Season 87, where officials thoroughly review tapes then deem if the penalties are worth the punishment.
READ: UAAP transferees set to sit out one year, lose another year of eligibility
Tounkara sure wishes that the league hears his side, as he does not want to miss that next game which will be played at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
“We’re ready to give all our best there in our next game since we lost two straight games,” he said, with the Growling Tigers dropping to a 4-5 win-loss record in the ongoing tourney.
It doesn’t mean that he’s not holding himself accountable, with the Malian center owning up to his mistakes and admitting that emotions got the better of him when he got sent back to the dugout with 3:38 remaining in regulation for taunting, his second technical infraction.
“I was too much in the game and sometimes, I have to control myself,” he said, ruing the belated UST fightback which eventually fell short in extra time.
“I think if I was there, we would have much more chances to win this game, but I need to control myself sometimes. I know I’m like this, sometimes I get too much in the game, but I have to control myself.”
Tounkara finished with 14 points and eight rebounds before hitting the showers.
UST sends statement despite defeat
But despite his absence, he couldn’t be prouder with how the rest of the Espana side fought, especially with the way they clawed back from an early 20-point hole.
“That truly shows that we have a pretty good team this year and we keep on growing and getting better every day. That’s what I saw from the team.”
That game, however, is over and done with, as Tounkara and Co. make a quick pivot to the Blue Eagles, as well as their next five games.
Regardless if his suspension gets lifted or not, the 6-foot-8 big has the utmost trust that the black-and-hold will always be a tough to break.
“I believe we’re gonna do much better for our next five games,” he said. “But we have to win the next one if we want to make it in the Final Four.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
