UST's Akowe recovers to pull off statement performance vs La Salle

MANILA, Philippines — During the first half of their UAAP Season 88 game Saturday, University of Santo Tomas’ dominant rookie big man Collins Akowe looked mortal against the tall frontline of the La Salle Green Archers.

Banging bodies against double-double machine Mike Phillips, Akowe was held to just eight points in the first two quarters. His shots during the first half were wild as the Taft-based squad built a wall around him any time they can.

In the second half, though, the 19-year-old big man became too much to handle not just for Phillips, but the entire Green Archers team.

Akowe finished with 20 points and 19 rebounds, to go with a block and an assist, shooting 8-of-15 from the floor. He also made four of his five free throws as UST pulled off a 93-84 statement win over La Salle.

In the fourth frame, Akowe tallied eight points and eight rebounds as he flexed his muscles down low. In that quarter, UST outscored La Salle 21-10.

“I just came out to play basketball, that's all. But, you know, fortunately for me, it looks like a statement,” Akowe, who played with a flu, told reporters after the game.

The center outplayed Phillips, who finished with eight points and 15 rebounds.

“So, I'm glad we actually won against La Salle. You know, like Forthsky [Padrigao] said, Coach Juno [Sauler] is down 0-2 against La Salle. So, I'm glad we actually won,” he added.

Sauler was the head coach of the Green Archers the last time, prior to Saturday’s game, UST won against their rivals.

Back in October 2015, the Bong dela Cruz-coached Tigers defeated La Salle, 81-79. After that game, UST lost 16 straight against the Green Archers.

Despite the frustrating first half, Akowe said he just kept his composure and stayed cool and calm, leading to the explosive second half.

“The team needed me. So, I have to do what I need to do. Gotta get the job done, which I did. Shoutout to my teammates and my coaches andor everyone coming out, they boosted my morale. Mostly the Thomasian community,” he said.

“When they were screaming ‘Go Uste, Go Uste,’ it reminded me that I was playing for the school, not for my name,” he added.

But it was not all Akowe for UST. Nic Cabanero top-scored for the squad with 27 points and six rebounds, while Amiel Acido and Padrigao had 13 and 12 markers, respectively. Kyle Paranada also provided the spark with nine points.

Phillips, for his part, tipped his hat to the former juniors’ Most Valuable Player and UAAP boys’ best foreign student-athlete, whom he described as “definitely one of the hardest” big men he faced in the UAAP.

“Very, very exciting matchup. One of the things I really like Akowe, hindi porke’t malaki siya, he does not give an excuse not to be mobile.Yung motor niya, sobrang mataas and that’s a really dangerous combo when you have that person of that size, but also that effort and that energy and that motor,” he said.

“So I think that's something that, you know, is really a big thing for UST to have a guy like that that's really hardworking. And also really, for me, I think he blends well with the system. And I think they're really coached well,” he added.

Phillips also said the patience and footwork of the former National University Bullpup is really good.

“I'm just really excited because rookie pa lang siya this year, but how he's going to adapt. Especially him coming, it's a testament coming from the juniors to the seniors. So, yeah, definitely a pretty good player,” Phillips underscored, as he likened the 19-year-old man-child to former Far Eastern University standout Emman Ojuola, National University’s Kenshin Padrones and Adamson’s Ced Manzano.

Akowe and the Growling Tigers will try to continue rolling as they take on NU, while La Salle will aim to bounce back against FEU next.

Both games will be held on Wednesday, October 1, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.