In just his first two games in the collegiate ranks, Collins Akowe has already made a dominant impression.
The 6-foot-10 Nigerian big man is averaging 24.5 points and 18.0 rebounds, powering the University of Santo Tomas to a 2-0 start in UAAP Season 88.
For Kevin de Castro, Akowe’s former head coach at National University Nazareth School, the seamless transition comes as no surprise.
“Expected ko na talaga sa kanya yun kasi alam naman natin na he worked hard for it,” said De Castro. “He deserves kung ano man ang na-achieve niya every day, and I know na he’s really learning every single day.
“He knows his goals at marunong siyang i-handle ang sarili niya para maabot yung mga dreams niya.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Akowe and De Castro went through countless battles together back in high school.
In UAAP Season 86, the duo led the Bullpups to a runner-up finish, bowing to the Adamson Baby Falcons in a hard-fought three-game finals series. Akowe capped that campaign by being named season MVP.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The following year, with Akowe once again spearheading the squad and De Castro guiding from the sidelines, NUNS secured the No. 1 seed at the end of the eliminations.
Akowe earned the Best Foreign Student-Athlete award, but the Bullpups once again fell short, this time against the UST Tiger Cubs in the finals.
Now, two years later, the paths of mentor and protégé will cross once again — only this time on opposite sides.
Akowe now anchors UST, while De Castro serves as an assistant to NU head coach Jeff Napa.
“Mixed emotions eh, pero siyempre andun na siya sa next level ng career niya.
“I’m sure marami pa siyang matututunan doon. Excited din ako to see him, pero this time nasa kabilang side na siya naglalaro,” De Castro shared.
And while De Castro naturally wants to see NU prevail, he also hopes Akowe continues to thrive in his new environment.
“Good luck sa kanya bukas. Kung pwede ko lang sana siyang bantayan bukas para manalo kami,” quipped the one-time UAAP champion coach.
