Collins Akowe, the reigning Best Foreign Student-Athlete in the UAAP Juniors, shares why he chose to take his talents to UST for his collegiate career.
Collins Akowe was one of the most coveted big men in the collegiate basketball scene.
Towering at 6-foot-10 with a dominant high school career under his belt, the former NU-Nazareth School Bullpup was a prized recruit many UAAP teams had their eyes on.
But when it came time to decide, Akowe didn’t pick prestige or powerhouse status. He chose home—and that, for him, was the University of Santo Tomas.
“Why UST? The community, the support. They welcomed me with open hands. They made me feel at home,” said Akowe. “You can't be playing basketball and not feeling at home.”
The former UAAP Juniors MVP and reigning Best Foreign Student-Athlete averaged 20.8 points, 18.3 rebounds, and nearly two blocks per game during Season 87.
With his skill, size, and upside, Akowe could have taken his talents anywhere.
But in España, Akowe found a sense of belonging and the chance to develop further under a program that values both player growth and team culture.
“I felt like, okay, this is somewhere I can call home. And where also I can develop my basketball game, my basketball skills. The likes of Coach Kirk [Collier], he’s a PBA skills coach, so that’s more of it,” he said.
With UST looking to end its rebuilding phase after a string of tough seasons, the arrival of Akowe is a massive boost for the Growling Tigers, especially after the exit of Mo Tounkara.
While Peter Osang has handled the import duties in the preseason, Akowe is clearly seen as a cornerstone for UST’s long-term plans.
Still, Akowe is keeping things simple for now.
“Coming season, I’m just gonna do Collins things—what I usually do. Nothing extra, nothing special. I’m just gonna play basketball. That’s why I’m here,” he said.
And while the Growling Tigers failed to get past the DLSU Green Archers in the Playtime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, Akowe expects to suit up the next time they face the Taft-based squad.
“Definitely, I'm still gonna face them one day in the UAAP. So, it's actually a privilege to actually see them play. Before actually playing against them,” said Akowe.
“Now I can see what they're capable of. The stuff that they can do. So, when the time comes, yeah, I'll definitely play against them.”