AFTER MONTHS of weighing options, the UST Growling Tigers finally made the tough call this offseason to name former junior’s MVP Collins Akowe as their new foreign student-athlete (FSA) in the upcoming UAAP Season 88.
The FSA spot was vacated after Mo Tounkara left UST in April to return to his home country of Mali and play professionally for the Basketball Africa League.
Despite having dependable options in backup FSA Peter Osang and former Tiger Cub Racine Kane, Tigers assistant coach Japs Cuan admitted selecting Akowe was “not an easy call.”
“We made sure we looked at all considerations, what are the pros and cons, what he can contribute, what are the disadvantages and advantages,” the deputy coach told The Flame.
“But again, it’s hard to pass up on a high school MVP,” he added.
Cuan said that Akowe’s size addressed the Tigers’ missing inside presence, giving them a much-needed anchor in the paint and opening up space for their shooters to thrive.
Akowe, who stands at 6-foot-10, expressed his gratitude for the confidence the España-based squad showed in choosing him as its new import.
“For me, I don’t like to impress anybody, I just do my thing … I just try to make a statement. So I thank God that I have the opportunity to play for UST,” he said.
The 19-year-old said it is challenging to adjust to the college basketball pace, as well as to integrate himself into the Tigers’ play style.
“When we went to Korea [for training], we bonded a lot… Just a bit of challenges, you know, I just came from high school to college… It’s a different ball game, and also adjusting to a new system,” he said.
The Nigerian big man — who will have five years of eligibility starting Season 88 — emphasized the importance of health as key to sustaining a successful collegiate career.
“You need to stay healthy, that’s the first thing. If you have a healthy body, you would be able to do your thing.”
After joining UST in June, Akowe impressed in his debut in the Asiabasket 2025 International Invitational, posting averages of 14.5 points and 15.5 rebounds in four outings to win MVP and steer his team to a second-place finish.
Akowe and the NU-Nazareth School Bullpups succumbed to the Tiger Cubs in the boys’ finals, where he averaged 20.8 points and 19.2 rebounds per contest
Prior to landing the former high school standout, the Tigers leaned on the services of Osang during their offseason basketball tournaments beginning in 2023.
Meanwhile, the 6-foot-6 Kane played an instrumental role in ending the Tiger Cubs’ 24-year title drought and won the finals MVP guarding Akowe last March. F
