Collins Akowe isn’t going far for the next chapter of his budding basketball career in the Philippines.
The Nigerian student-athlete is making the short move from Jhocson to España, committing to University of Santo Tomas ahead of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament this September.
After a standout high school stint with National University Nazareth School, where he was named the UAAP Season 86 Boys’ Basketball MVP, Akowe made the difficult decision to leave his alma mater.
Sources told Tiebreaker Times that NU’s best offer was a slot on Team B, due to the return of big man Omar John.
This prompted Akowe, the inaugural Best FSA awardee in Season 87, to narrow his choices to UST and De La Salle University.
In the end, he chose UST.
La Salle’s already crowded frontcourt — which includes Bright Nwankwo, Mason Amos, Mike Phillips, and Luis Pablo — factored into Akowe’s decision to don the gold and white.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Akowe averaged an eye-popping 20.94 points, 19.28 rebounds, 2.56 assists, and 1.96 blocks per game in his senior year.
He is expected to make an immediate impact on a loaded Growling Tigers roster that includes Nic Cabanero, Forthsky Padrigao, Gelo Crisostomo, and Amiel Acido.
Standing at 6-foot-10, Akowe is also joining a deep pool of foreign student-athletes at UST, including Peter Osang, Joseph Kumbai, Racine Kane, Christian Tabeth, and Precious Offoma.
With Kumbai still serving his residency year, Kane and Tabeth recovering from ACL injuries, and Offoma still considered a project player, all signs point to Akowe taking the lead FSA role for the Growling Tigers — further solidifying their status as a title contender in Season 88.
He will also reunite with fellow Season 87 juniors standouts Koji Buenaflor and Charles Bucsit, as well as Kristian Porter and James Jumao-as, as part of the Tigers’ next-generation core.
Akowe will have five full playing years with UST, beginning in Season 88.
