The UST Growling Tigers were reeling. They had lost three straight to open the second round of the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament before finally defeating the FEU Tamaraws, 86-85, on Sunday. It was a struggle, but for Collins Akowe, that three-game losing streak was nothing more than a test of character.
Together During the Highs and Lows
Specifically, Akowe felt that UST’s skid only tested whether the Growling Tigers would remain united even in the bad times.
“It was like a character test for us,” Akowe said. “We just had to stick together during the lows. We don’t just stick together during the highs. We just showed our character, trust each other, and stay together.”
The 6-foot-10 center finished with 8 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in the win as he continued to anchor UST’s attack. Against FEU, he had plenty of help from the dynamic guard duo of Amiel Acido and Mark Llemit, who added 23 and 16 points, respectively.
Bouncing Back
One point of emphasis for UST in its win over FEU, according to Akowe, was rebounding, as the Growling Tigers were outrebounded, 59-29, in their loss to the NU Bulldogs. Unsurprisingly, Akowe himself made it his priority to crash the boards against FEU.
“I just stick to the system because, coming from the loss against NU, we got outrebounded by, I think, 30, so I just had to try my best,” added Akowe, who is averaging 14.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 blocks so far. “Focus on the little things that I can do, which is what they need me for, offensive and defensive rebounds. So, that’s all that I did. We switched, then I said, ‘No, I gotta grab this rebound no matter what.’”
Down the stretch against the Tamaraws, the Season 88 Mythical Team member secured several crucial rebounds on both ends of the floor as both teams struggled to convert important shots. At the end of the game, UST finished with 44 rebounds compared to FEU’s 33.
“I didn’t focus on scoring, but scoring is the bonus part. Rebounding, that was our main focus,” Akowe emphasized.
With Acido and Llemit combining for 39 points and Landyn Jumawan adding 18, UST definitely needed more of Akowe’s rebounding, and the big man delivered.
The Growling Tigers will need more from Akowe when they face the suddenly dangerous UE Red Warriors on Wednesday, November 11.
