Adjusting to Philippine basketball “has really not been easy” for University of the Philippines’ foreign-student athlete, forward Francis Nnoruka, who has been tasked with filling big shoes to bolster the Fighting Maroons’ title defense in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Tracing back to his Nigerian roots and his connection with “kuya” and former UP FSA Bright Akhuetie, Nnoruka is gradually living up to the high expectations as the Fighting Maroons’ man in the middle — following in the footsteps of Akhuetie, Season 85 MVP Malick Diouf, and Dikachi Udodo.
His eagerness to represent UP stems from a personal promise to uphold Akhuetie’s legacy — the Season 81 MVP who not only paved the way for Nnoruka to join Diliman through his ties with Office of Athletics and Sports Development head Bo Perasol and coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Akhuetie also set a gold standard for UP’s foreign student-athletes with his grit, leadership, and heart for the program.
“When he got back, he spoke to me and asked if I wanted to come out here and play. I said yes, because it looked amazing watching him play, so I really wanted to be here too,” the 6-foot-9 center told Tiebreaker Times Wednesday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“He talked to Coach Bo and Coach Gold, and they made it possible for me to come — God did too.”
From watching Akhuetie back in Nigeria, Nnoruka’s basketball journey has come full circle as he steadily makes a name for himself with the Fighting Maroons.
His highlight — for now — is a dominant 28-point performance on 9-of-13 shooting, alongside nine rebounds and four blocks, in an 83-69 victory over the previously-unbeaten Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
“It was really about my connection with former UP import Bright Akhuetie. If you’re a UP fan, you know Bright Akhuetie — that’s like my kuya back home. He told me about UP, and I’ve been watching his games since then, every time they played in the UAAP back in Africa and Nigeria,” Nnoruka shared.
“His impact is huge — really huge. I’m just trying as much as I can to live up to the standards he left at UP. I’m focused on playing my spot and doing what Bright did.”
Unlike Akhuetie, whose transition to Philippine basketball seemed seamless, Nnoruka admitted he faced personal struggles, especially when he was promoted from UP’s Team B roster to the main squad ahead of Season 88.
Adjusting to Monteverde’s system while taking on a bigger role presented its own challenges.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“It has really not been easy. Adjusting to basketball here in the Philippines and learning UP’s system has been one hell of a job.
“When I was still with Team B, it was almost easy because there wasn’t really a set system — I could just play freestyle basketball. But moving up to Team A changed everything. I had to fully embrace my role, learn the plays, understand the defensive schemes — everything,” the Nigerian big man admitted.
Still, Nnoruka knows his journey is far from over, especially with the daunting challenge of helping the Fighting Maroons compete against perennial contenders like the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, De La Salle University Green Archers, National University Bulldogs, and the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
“I’m proud of myself for getting this far and becoming more familiar with the system,” he said.
“But it’s still not done. There’s a lot more to improve on, and I’ve got to go back to the drawing board.”
