AFTER A successful high school stint with the NU-Nazareth School Bullpups, former UAAP boys’ basketball MVP and Best Foreign Student-Athlete Collins Akowe has jumped to España to undertake his collegiate hoops journey with the UST Growling Tigers.
The 19-year-old standout will be eligible to play for five years starting in Season 88, UST team manager Waiyip Chong confirmed to The Flame.
Akowe posted averages of 20.9 points, 19.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in Season 87 en route to a second consecutive finals appearance. He was also on the verge of winning back-to-back MVP awards, but became ineligible after the UAAP created a separate award for the best import in the tournament.
The Tigers’ coaching staff is yet to make a decision on the lone import spot as foreign athletes Peter Osang and Joseph Kumbai are also in the mix to join the roster in the upcoming campaign.
UST’s foreign student athlete spot was vacated after ex-Tiger Mo Tounkara returned to his home country to turn professional and play for Stade Malien in the Basketball Africa League.
The 6-foot-10 Nigerian will provide more depth to an already stacked frontcourt, following a notable season from Gelo Crisostomo and the commitment of high school rival Koji Buenaflor to the senior division.
Akowe bid farewell to the Jhocson-based university on June 10 through a heartfelt message.
“It has been an honor to represent NUNS (NU-Nazareth School) for the last two years, they helped shape me into the athlete I am today,” Akowe said in a social media post.
“I will forever be grateful for the lessons the coaches have taught me, the bonds I share with my teammates, and the support from the entire NU community,” he added.
The Bullpups came up short against the Tiger Cubs in the boys’ winner-take-all finals back in March. The season daw UST ending its 24-year title drought in the junior division. In that series, Akowe averaged a monster double-double made up of 25 points and 24 rebounds per game in the losing effort.
Akowe’s running mate Migs Palanca also left the Bullpups and commited to the UP Fighting Maroons. F
