GROWLING TIGERS’ prized rookie Collins Akowe imposed a dominant start to his senior career, bagging his first Collegiate Press Corps Player of The Week award unanimously in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball.
The foreign student-athlete wreaked havoc in his first two outings with monster averages of 24.5 points and 18 rebounds from September 20 to 28, steering UST to a perfect 2-0 start.
The 19-year-old big man outclassed fellow teammate Nic Cabañero, Ateneo’s Kymani Ladi, NU’s Jake Figueroa and DLSU’s Jacob Cortez for the weekly achievement.
Akowe made his presence felt from the jump, dropping a 29-point, 17-rebound game in his collegiate debut against the reigning champions UP Fighting Maroons on September 21.
Led by senior guard Gerry Abadiano, the Maroons faltered to UST, 67-87. Their first loss to the España squad in six years.
The Tigers then rallied against the Mike Phillips-led DLSU Green Archers on Sept 27, where they ended a 16-game losing streak against them.
Despite feeling under the weather, Akowe powered the team with 20 points and 19 rebounds to shoot down the Taft-based squad for the first time in 10 years.
“I’ve been dealing with a fever for the past two days, but no excuses,” Akowe told The Flame after UST’s 93-84 victory over DLSU.
Prior to landing in the Tigers’ lair, the 6-foot-10 center had a successful high school stint with the NU-Nazareth School Bullpups.
The Nigerian big was awarded Season 87’s best foreign student-athlete in the high school division. He led the Bullpups to a silver medal finish averaging 25 points and 24 rebounds.
Kacey Dela Rosa of the Ateneo Blue Eagles was also unanimously awarded the Player of The Week honor for the women’s division.
The two-time MVP steered the Eagles to a 2-0 start, averaging 26.5 points and 14 rebounds.
Akowe and the Tigers will look to keep momentum as they face the still-undefeated NU Bulldogs on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. F
