UAAP Season 82 was the last time Bright Akhuetie would don the University of the Philippines uniform.
Akhuetie and the Fighting Maroons have decided that it would be better for the team to field Malick Diouf for the upcoming UAAP Season 84 season. The tournament begins in early 2022.
“One year na lang lalaruin niya so it would be better to give the experience to Malick, who will be playing at least three years for UP,” UP head of basketball operations Bo Perasol told Tiebreaker Times.
Akhuetie transferred from Perpetual Help to UP back in 2017.
In his first season with the Fighting Maroons, the 6-foot-8 big man led the school to the Finals. That was the school’s first appearance in men’s basketball since 1986. He also won that season’s Most Valuable Player plum.
A year later, Akhuetie and the Fighting Maroons finished in third place.
Akhuetie ended up with averages of 16.09 points and 13.14 rebounds in 34 games played for UP.
Akhuetie will still play basketball, though.
He will make his first post-UP appearance with the Nigerian men’s national basketball team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers.
The 25-year-old joins Ibe Agu, Jaleel Akindele, Ike Diogu, Tarekeyi Edogi, Amanze Egekeze, Benjamin Emelogu, Ike Iroegbu, Christopher Obekpa, Omotayo Ogundiran, Keith Omoerah, Michel Oriakhi, Ben Uzoh, and Abdulwahad Yakubu in the team.
Head coach of the team is former Red Bull import Julius Nwosu. Nwosu led Red Bull to the 2002 PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown.
Nigeria faces Cape Verde on Friday and Mali on Saturday.
