THIS SEASON, the spotlight shines brighter on Nigerian big man Collins Akowe following a standout rookie campaign.
After a breakout debut that earned him Rookie of the Year and Mythical Five honors, the 6-foot-10 center enters his sophomore season as one of the team’s most important pieces.
For Akowe, however, the awards are not the priority.
“If the MVP comes, if the Mythical Five comes. It comes,” Akowe said in an interview with The Flame.
Collins erupted in his rookie campaign averaging 16.4 points and 14.5 rebounds.
During their successful preseason campaign, including the NSAC World Invitational where UST settled for silver, Akowe was named Most Valuable Player and earned a spot in the Mythical Five.
With his capabilities no longer a secret, Akowe knows opponents will be ready to counter his game.
“It’s left for you to read the defense they’re giving you. I’ve been in the UAAP for three years, so I’m used to that by now,” Akowe said.
But as expectations around him grow bigger, Akowe turns back to the message head coach Pido Jarencio has instilled in the team: play with a big heart.
“Just play with a big heart. You play for the school. You represent the school,” he said.
The reminder calls on the players to stay grounded, even as the UST letters etched across their jerseys carry greater weight.
Still, Akowe believes that the pressure is not something to shy away from. If anything, he welcomes the challenge.
“I have a championship mentality and I’m going out there… No matter what defense [they] give me, I’m going to cook them,” he said. F – with reports from Joshua Louis Sumanghid
