As National University gears up for its off-season preparations ahead of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, the status of Nigerian center Collins Akowe remains uncertain.
The standout big man has yet to decide whether he will commit to the Jeff Napa-coached Bulldogs or take his talents to another UAAP school.
Akowe, the Season 86 Boys’ Basketball MVP, was recently spotted training with the Bulldogs and has been included in NU’s roster for the upcoming PinoyLiga Collegiate Cup.
However, sources familiar with the situation told Tiebreaker Times that Akowe has not made a firm commitment to any collegiate program. The Season 87 Best Foreign Student-Athlete awardee is currently training with NU simply to maintain his conditioning.
“Yes, he’s practicing with the Bulldogs and he will also play some games with them because he needs to stay in shape, to keep his conditioning intact, and to also feel what collegiate basketball atmosphere looks like,” a source shared.
The source added that Akowe has yet to commit to NU.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Beyond staying in game shape and acclimating to the physicality of collegiate basketball, the source also revealed that Akowe’s hesitation to commit stems from offers he’s received from other UAAP schools. NU, which finished seventh in Season 87, remains a potential destination, but it is not his only option.
This development is also promising for Philippine basketball.
Akowe had previously revealed to Tiebreaker Times that he received more offers from international programs than from local schools following the Bullpups’ Game 3 Finals loss to the UST Tiger Cubs.
His continued presence in the country opens the door for a potential stint with the Gilas Men as a local in the future, as he gains his “basketball knowledge” here.
The 19-year-old capped off his stellar two-year high school run with NU-Nazareth School by averaging 20.94 points, 19.28 rebounds, 2.56 assists, and 1.94 blocks per game in Season 87, leading the Bullpups to a silver-medal finish.
