Collins Akowe will not be suiting up for National University in the 2025 Playtime Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
In the official roster submitted by the Bulldogs, 6-foot-10 Senegalese center Omar John is listed as their foreign student-athlete for the tournament.
Akowe’s absence from the lineup has fueled speculation about his place in NU’s short-term plans, particularly for UAAP Season 88.
Despite being part of NU’s Pinoyliga roster, team insiders told Tiebreaker Times that the UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player has yet to fully commit to the school.
Rumors previously circulated that Akowe had committed to NJCAA Division I school Barton Community College, but the big man himself has denied these claims.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In his Grade 12 campaign with NU-Nazareth School, the 6-foot-10 Akowe posted impressive numbers — averaging 20.94 points, 19.28 rebounds, and 1.94 blocks per game — leading the Bullpups to a silver medal finish.
Currently, NU has two foreign student-athletes in its pool: Omar John and the recovering Mo Diassana.
This FSA logjam has opened the door for other UAAP schools in need of a dominant big man for the upcoming season.
According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, several universities are closely monitoring Akowe’s status in hopes of securing his commitment.
Meanwhile, John has looked sharp in his return to the Bulldogs.
During the recent AsiaBasket tournament, he averaged 13.6 points and 8.9 rebounds, helping lead NU to a third-place finish.
