Romwel Anzures

University of Santo Tomas’ Collins Akowe during the Growling Tigers’ practice at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, September 1, 2025. Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756894769100IMG_0571-min.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="University of Santo Tomas’ Collins Akowe during the Growling Tigers’ practice at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, September 1, 2025. Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">University of Santo Tomas’ Collins Akowe during the Growling Tigers’ practice at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, September 1, 2025. <em>Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — University of Santo Tomas can rely on a proven winner in the paint come UAAP Season 88 in the form of former juniors MVP Collins Akowe.<br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/2/uaap-amiel-acido-ready-to-make-huge-leap-in-upcoming-sophomore-year-for-ust-2024"></a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/2/uaap-amiel-acido-ready-to-make-huge-leap-in-upcoming-sophomore-year-for-ust-2024"><strong>READ: Amiel Acido ready to make huge leap in upcoming sophomore year for UST</strong></a></div><p>The Growling Tigers will be backed by the former National University-Nazareth School star as they look to bank on their Final 4 finish last year, and the 6-foot-10 Nigerian stud is ready to man the middle for UST.</p><p>“I’m just gonna do my thing, do what I can to help the team,” Akowe told ABS-CBN News. “I’m just going to do what I can.”</p><p>The 19-year-old Akowe is already a proven winner in the UAAP stage.</p><p>Aside from his MVP plum — a first by a foreign student-athlete (FSA) in the division — he led the Bullpups to the boys’ basketball Finals from Seasons 86 to 87, received two Mythical Team citations, and was also hailed as last year’s inaugural Best FSA.</p><p>Given his already stacked resume from the high school ranks, Akowe has high expectations for himself — expectations that he is eager and raring to live up to.</p><p>“Something about me is I don’t like proving points to anybody,” he said. “But I have expectations for myself, and I believe I can get there because I am never satisfied, and I believe I can get better every game.” <strong></strong><br/></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>From Jhocson to Sampaloc</strong><br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756894816678IMG_1006-min.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="University of Santo Tomas’ Collins Akowe during the Growling Tigers’ practice at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, September 1, 2025. Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">University of Santo Tomas’ Collins Akowe during the Growling Tigers’ practice at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, September 1, 2025. <em>Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern.</em></span></span></span>In what turned out to be his last year with NU-Nazareth, Akowe again found himself on the wrong end of things when the season’s final buzzer rang, falling short to the UST Tiger Cubs in overtime.</div><p>This was similar to how Season 86 ended for the Bullpups as Adamson University overcame them in three games.</p><p>However, these losses were not the reason for Akowe’s move from one school to another.</p><p>Moving from National U to UST was not initially on his radar, but when the opportunity to don the black and gold came, he could not pass up on playing with what he sees as a squad that is built on good chemistry, and a school that made him feel at home.</p><p>“Transferring from high school is not easy,” said Akowe, who posted 20.8 points, 18.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 blocks in Season 87. “But it’s a good experience.”</p><p>Akowe credited the likes of Forthsky Padrigao, Nic Cabañero, Kyle Paranada, and Leland Estacio as the Tigers who made his transition easier among UST’s coaches, staff, and management.</p><p>“I found it easy because I’ve been with good teammates, so it’s a good one,” he said. “Everyone has been helping me. They have been supporting me, they have been helpful, and they are always pushing me.”</p><p>And now that he is finally set to don the Tigers’ kits, Akowe has this to promise for the Thomasians and the whole UST community who are hungrier than ever to end their more-than-a-decade search for men’s basketball glory: “I will do whatever I can to help the team win.”</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABgBVjMYHAiinFk-"></script>

UAAP: Collins Akowe holds self to high standards as he mans the paint for UST

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UAAP: Collins Akowe holds self to high standards as he mans the paint for UST

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 04, 2025 08:30 AM PHT

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