Championship rivals in high school, Koji Buenaflor and Collins Akowe now join forces in UST as the Growling Tigers look to score a title breakthrough in UAAP Season 88.
Rookies Koji Buenaflor and Collins Akowe turn their previously rivalry to friendship, joining forces with the Growling Tigers in hopes of taking UST to the next level in UAAP Season 88.
Akowe, NU-Nazareth's star center in high school, now teams up with UST high products Buenaflor, Carl Manding, and Charles Bucsit just months after previously fighting for the UAAP juniors title.
(Top row) Charles Bucsit, Koji Buenaflor, and Carl Manding will be among the homegrown talents for UST in this coming Season 88. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
Now with a fresh start to their collegiate careers, Buenaflor and Akowe let go of their past and are eager to intertwine their careers anew, this time on the same page.
“For me, it’s all love din naman kasi pagdating sa basketball, even though, Finals yun syempre competitive, pero outside that series naman, syempre magkakaibigan din naman kami,” Buenaflor told One Sports.
Buenaflor and the Tiger Cubs beat Akowe' Bullpups in the Finals of UAAP Season 87, with the series going a full three games.
While Akowe was understandably broken hearted after losing in his senior year, he welcomes the new development of his career.
Collins Akowe joins forces with his former foes in UST after graduating from NU-Nazareth School. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
“I don’t know, it’s a mixed feeling. It’s nothing personal. It’s just basketball, we’re just trying to get the job done. So I’d say, it’s nice to be teammates with them,” he said.
Bygones be bygones
For the quartet of decorated rookies, the battles of the past remain just that — fond memories that they can all look back on in jest.
Despite finishing on opposite ends of a championship story, there is now nothing between them as they work together for the good of the team in España.
Finding themselves in each other’s corner, Buenaflor is hopeful that he and Akowe, along with the rest of the former UST high school stars, will be able to move forward into a new chapter with the Growling Tigers.
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“Pag sa practice, naglolokohan kami nila Collins, na we’re looking back sa mga games namin nung Finals, and yun, minsan pinagtatawanan na lang din namin,” admitted Buenaflor.
“Isa rin yun sa way na nakapagbuo samin ng relationship namin ni Collins,” he added.
All four rookies will be eyeing a great showing for UST, a team looking to win the UAAP title for the first time since Season 69.
As Season 88 hosts, the Growling Tigers open the new year against defending champions UP Fighting Maroons on Sunday, September 21, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.