This is the most focused Omar John has been, and it’s a lesson he learned after not being included in National University’s UAAP Season 87 lineup.
The 6-foot-10 center from Gambia was NU’s foreign student-athlete for Seasons 85 and 86, but the Bulldogs opted to go with Mo Diassana for Season 87.
Acknowledging his past lapses, John reinvented his game and committed to doing exactly what head coach Jeff Napa asks of him — whether as a scorer, defender, or any other role.
On Wednesday, John was tasked with being a defensive stopper. And he delivered, helping NU secure a 76-69 win over University of Santo Tomas and improve to 3-0 in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
This defensive assignment was no easy task, as he was matched up against UST’s super rookie Collins Akowe.
Akowe had been averaging 24.5 points and 18.0 rebounds during the Growling Tigers’ 2-0 start against last two seasons’ finalists, University of the Philippines and De La Salle University.
John rose to the occasion, holding the former NU Nazareth School Nigerian center to just five points on 1-of-7 shooting and eight rebounds in 31 minutes and 57 seconds on the floor.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“As I said, I just stick to the game plan and what Coach Jeff told me to do. Right now, it’s not about forcing my stats. I have a mission. If he said to me you have to stop this guy, I will do my best to do it,” John said after the win, which gave NU its best start in the Final Four era.
Akowe, meanwhile, admitted he battled the flu during the match and felt dizzy throughout.
John also shone offensively, scoring 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, along with 12 rebounds, three blocks, three assists, and two steals.
For the 23-year-old center, the game reinforced a crucial lesson: understanding what it truly takes to win.
“I just wanna thank Coach Jeff because he still trusts me. Although two seasons ago, I played with some tantrums, but it’s not my attitude. I just want to win,” John said.
“Now, I understand that if I want to win, I have to put aside my tantrums, my ego, and just stick on the game plan and support my teammates.”
Napa also commended John’s reinvention, both on and off the court, noting the support he received from the rest of the Bulldogs even when he wasn’t part of last season’s lineup.
John will be tested again on Saturday when NU faces University of the Philippines at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
“Thankful kami talaga na yung pagbabago niya for the better as a player, as a person. Nagbe-benefit talaga ‘yung team,” Napa said.
“Maybe he’s matured enough to understand everything. Now he’s settled down and his teammates really support him well siguro yun yung magandang nangyayari give and take sila. They trust each other na kahit anong mangyari, no one will be left behind.”
