Bright Akhuetie had to stop himself when he entered the SM Mall of Asia Arena press room.
The Nigerian big man had had plenty of time to rest after his University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons blasted the UE Red Warriors, 87-58, and had the game in hand with more than half the quarter remaining.
Up to that point, Akhuetie had looked rather comfortable, posting a cool 15-point,-18-rebound double-double in his UAAP debut.
However, the newbie paused as an estimated crowd of 80 media members were waiting for his arrival to the post-game press conference.
“What’s going on? Is it like this all the time?” Akhuetie asked one of the UAAP press relations officers.
There was plenty of buzz right when Akhuetie had decided to move from Las Piñas-based University of Perpetual Help all the way to University of the Philippines’ vast Katipunan campus.
Since Season 79, the Fighting Maroons have been steadily climbing the standings.
With the NCAA Season 92 Seniors Basketball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player manning the paint, the Maroons are poised to finally make the Final Four.
But decade-long droughts are usually hard to break, which is why the lighthearted Akhuetie is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
“I’m happy just really happy to be playing basketball again,” said Akhuetie when asked about his first game in the UAAP. Coincidentally, he played his last match as an Altas in the same venue.
“It’s still the same basketball. UAAP is bigger, there are a lot more people watching. But it’s the same basketball.
“I just have to get used to the process of playing a lot of minutes again,” he added.
Akhuetie is aware that the UAAP is long and arduous. For now, his sights are set on the defending champs Ateneo de Manila University, whom they face on Wednesday.
“I trust my coaches and how we’re going to prepare for them. Hopefully, they give me a nice birthday gift,” added Akhuetie, who turns 22 on September 12.
