GROWLING LOUD
Collins Akowe said he didn’t need to overthink ahead of his UAAP debut for the University of Santo Tomas, and facing a University of the Philippines team hell-bent on repeating last season’s title run.
“Coming into the game, I had to clear my head and just do whatever I can,” Akowe said. “I just had to play.”
He played—and dominated—as his 29 points and 17 rebounds powered the Season 88 host Growling Tigers to an 87-67 rout of the Fighting Maroons on Sunday at UST’s veritable homecourt, the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The foreign student-athlete recruit out of the National University boys program set the tone early when UST raced to a 16-4 start and never looked back to produce a victory that may put the España side in serious talk as among the title favorites.
Akowe could be grateful that he was able to show why UST saw something in him after winning Season 86 Most Valuable Player and Season 87 Best FSA honors when he was with the Bullpups.
“They’ve been taking care of me quite well so this was how I can pay them back,” said the Nigerian center, who is listed at 6-foot-10.
Santo Tomas prevailed even without the services of crack guard Forthsky Padrigao, who served a one-game suspension for his ejection in last year’s Final Four against the same UP team it whipped to cap off the opening weekend of the collegiate season.
“Everyone on this team is working hard, happy to give back to our beloved school,” coach Pido Jarencio, probably the most lethal scorer the school has produced in recent times, told the Inquirer. “And we will continue to work hard to make this season special.”
Kyle Paranada delivered 18 points for coach Pido Jarencio’s Growling Tigers in the victory that gives them all the confidence they need as they face another solid title contender in the La Salle Green Archers next.
Santo Tomas and La Salle will meet on Wednesday at the same venue, so the Tigers will have little time to savor their win over UP.
Earlier, National University rolled past University of the East, 72-57, to open its modest quest of returning to the Final Four following its absence in Season 87.
It was an all-around performance for Jake Figueroa with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, five steals and two blocks to power the Bulldogs team that is looking to improve on their 5-9 record last season.
For that to happen, National U coach Jeff Napa said the Bulldogs will need to be on their toes each game.
“We have 13 more games in the eliminations and every game will have a different approach because of the different personnel that we’ll face,” said Napa. “We just have to be ready and we have to show that the effort is there.”
National pulled away in the third after a 39-34 lead to eventually spoil the debut of UE’s new coach, Chris Gavina.
The Red Warriors absorbed a defeat that put their quest to end a 16-year Final Four off on the wrong foot.
