Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Bright Akhuetie takes in UAAP debut


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.

UAAP-81-UP-vs.-UE-Akhuetie-9832 Bright Akhuetie takes in UAAP debut Basketball News UAAP UP  - philippine sports news

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.

#ReadMore  UAAP Men's Basketball: UP dominates FEU, extends unbeaten streak to 4

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.

Written By

Miguel Luis Flores fell face first into sports writing in high sch9l and has never gotten up. He reluctantly stumbled into the volleyball beat when he started with Tiebreaker Times three years ago. Now, he has waded through everything volleyball - from its icky politics to the post-modern art that is Jia Morado's setting.


You May Also Like

Basketball

When the final buzzer sounded last Sunday, cementing University of the Philippines’s second UAAP Men’s Basketball championship under his watch, Goldwin Monteverde stood at...

Basketball

With one Mythical Team member graduating from University of the Philippines, another is ready to step in for UAAP Season 88. UAAP Season 86...

Basketball

The long wait is finally over. University of the Philippines, once relegated to the lower rungs of the UAAP men’s basketball standings, has risen...

Badminton

As University of the Philippines celebrated its three UAAP Season 87 first-semester championships in Men’s Basketball, Men’s Athletics, and Women’s Badminton during a bonfire...

Basketball

JD Cagulangan is ready to begin his professional basketball career outside the Philippines. The University of the Philippines and La Salle Green Hills standout...

Basketball

JD Cagulangan dreamed of a life full of green – but challenges and circumstances prompted him to change his shade of green and mix...

Basketball

Remember the pain. This was the message University of the Philippines head coach Goldwin Monteverde delivered to the Fighting Maroons ahead of their rubber...

Basketball

One-and-done center Quentin Millora-Brown’s move to play for University of the Philippines was more than just a motive to elevate his basketball skills. It...

Advertisement