PRECIOUS Momowei continues to be one of the rare shining lights in what has been a gloomy UAAP Season 88 so far for University of the East.
The Nigerian big made history last Wednesday, as his 42 points was the highest scoring output for a foreign student-athlete (FSA) in the Final Four era.
Momowei tried to strap the Red Warriors on his broad shoulders, going 16-of-27 from the field on top of 13 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.
It really would have been a memorable game for the 6-foot-9 beanpole if only they won, but the Recto side fell to La Salle, 111-110, in overtime.
READ: Momowei defends 'great guy' Lingolingo after foul on Baclaan
Still, Momowei’s mark bested that of Ben Mbala, who recorded 39 points in Oct. 4, 2017 in the Green Archers’ 106-100 conquest of the UE back in Season 80.
That aforementioned game also saw the last 40-point performance for a Red Warrior, as Alvin Pasaol scored 49 in that contest.
Going back to FSAs, the third-best mark is held by Ange Kouame when he scored 33 points in Ateneo’s 82-62 rout of Far Eastern University in Oct. 20, 2018 back in Season 81.
Collins Akowe’s Season 88 debut, when he fired 29 points in University of Santo Tomas’ 87-67 win over the University of the Philippines last Sept. 21, is tied for fourth-most with UE’s Alex Diakhite, who also nabbed 29 in the Red Warriors' 80-74 stunner of Adamson in Oct. 5, 2019 in Season 82.
And Francis Nnoruka’s 28 points in the Fighting Maroons' 83-69 win vs. the Blue Eagles last Sept. 28 placed fifth on the list, in the same level as fellow State U FSA Bright Akhuetie who also scored likewise in UP’s 94-81 victory over UE in Oct. 21, 2018 in Season 81.
Other FSAs who’ve had big scoring night over the years include UST’s Karim Abdul and Adamson’s Lenda Douanga (26 points); UST’s Soulemane Chabi Yo, FEU’s Prince Orizu, NU’s Issa Gaye, and Adamson’s Papi Sarr (25); UST’s Mo Tounkara, NU’s Alfred Aroga, and UE’s Charles Mammie (24); UP’s Malick Diouf and UST’s Adama Faye (23); and FEU’s Mo Konateh (22).
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