Bright Akhuetie has yet to show his Perpetual Altas-form with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. But he does not have to.
During his first two years in Perpetual, the Nigerian student-athlete posted norms of 17.91 points on 56 percent shooting and 11.66 rebounds in 35 games played. In five games for far in UP, he is averaging 14.2 points and 15.8 rebounds per game.
Moreover, he is averaging 3.8 assists per game.
“Right now I’m on a team where everybody can really play,” Akhuetie beamed. “Me staying on the post, I’m gonna attract some defense, my teammates will definitely be open. If I force it, I might score or I might miss.
“The easiest way is to look out for these guys who’ll be open and let them make the basket.”
But in the last two games, the 6-foot-8 big man needed to exert himself, as UP went on a skid. In their heartbreaking 68-69 loss to the Adamson Soaring Falcons, he tallied 20 points and 20 rebounds. Against the DLSU Green Archers, he had 19 points and 19 rebounds.
This time around, it resulted in a win.
“It was really really bad, really messed up,” admitted Akhuetie about their skid. “We go to practice, you see everybody moody and stuff.
“So we talked to ourselves, we can’t just lose like that. We’re all tired of losing so we have to come back at it.”
With the pressure surrounding them, the young Maroons are starting to learn to embrace it, Akhuetie shared.
“I kind of feel like it’s pressure, and sometimes we get too excited and then we lose focus on what’s happening on the floor. But we’re working on it.”
