When the UAAP held its press conference for the upcoming Collegiate Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Collins Akowe was focused elsewhere—preparing for National University Nazareth School’s matchup against Far Eastern University-Diliman at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Bullpups emerged victorious in a hard-fought 59-57 win, securing their eighth straight victory in the high school boys’ basketball tournament.
But what happened next caught Akowe completely off guard.
As he made his way to the press room, the 19-year-old Nigerian was informed of a new UAAP ruling that bars foreign student-athletes from winning the league’s highest individual honor—the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
The ruling was approved during UAAP Season 86 and implemented this season, but according to Akowe and Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro, they were not informed about it by the school before the season began.
As the reality of the situation set in, the 6-foot-10, Grade 12 senior lowered his head in disappointment.
“I’ll give you my honest truth. I really don’t know what to say because I’m speechless,” said Akowe.
“I never saw this coming.
“If they had told us before the start of the season, it would have been a different scenario,” he furthered.
Akowe made history last season as the first foreign student-athlete to win the MVP award in the high school division.
This year, he was on track for back-to-back MVP honors, averaging 21.14 points, 18.43 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.57 steals, and 1.86 blocks per game for a total of 108.143 statistical points after the first round.
Now, with the new ruling in place, he will go down as the last foreign MVP in UAAP history while also being on pace to become the inaugural Best Foreign Student-Athlete awardee. He is also still eligible to make the Mythical Team.
Naturally, Akowe felt a mix of emotions—hurt, frustration, and disappointment.
“I’ll just let the UAAP do their thing. They have their reasons. There’s a reason for everything. Let them do what they want,” he said.
“I’m here to play basketball. The goal is not the MVP. If it happens, that’s a bonus. The real goal is to win the championship and bring it back to Nazareth School. If MVP comes, fine. But my thoughts on that? Let it be. It is what it is.”
De Castro, who has been like an older brother to Akowe for the past three years, shared in his disappointment.
“Medyo nalungkot ako para sa kanya because he was aiming for back-to-back MVPs. Tama yung sinabi niya—dapat sinabi na from the start of the season. For my part, may disappointment, pero like I told him, kung hindi mo man makuha yung MVP, ang goal natin is the championship. Bonus na lang yung MVP,” said the young head coach, a former NU Bulldog himself.
“We’re still rooting for him. The goal is the championship—para buong team ang masaya.”
For Akowe, this unexpected change has only fueled his motivation.
With the MVP title no longer an option, his focus is sharper than ever—leading the Bullpups back to the top after two seasons of falling short.
“It’s added motivation, of course. The MVP is now out of the picture. Now, the other teams should… I’m being humble, but they should watch out. No more MVP? I’m coming for them.”
