NU's Omar John and UST's Collins Akowe in action in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament, October 1, 2025 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. UAAP Media
MANILA -- After making a grand entrance in the UAAP seniors division, University of Santo Tomas rookie Collins Akowe was kept in check by his alma mater in his third game in Season 88.
Akowe had registered back-to-back double-doubles in their first two games, wherein they triumphed against last season's finalists De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines.
But the National University Bulldogs kept him mostly silent on Wednesday night at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Akowe, who played for National University-Nazareth School in high school, managed only a season-low five points and eight boards on a measly 1-for-7 shooting, and the Bulldogs came away with a 76-69 victory.
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NU's Gambian center Omar John took on most of the assignment in guarding his co-foreign student-athlete.
"It was a very tough matchup because he's big and strong, but it was not only him… it was the UST team because they're really strong," John said after the game. "So, I have to do my job to try to stop him, like, how I can to stop him."
After sitting out the entire Season 87 after NU went with Mo Diassana as their foreign student-athlete, John came back determined to embrace his role and become a reliable big man under Jeff Napa's guidance.
"Right now, it's not about forcing my stats, I have a mission. If he [Napa] said to me you have to stop this guy, I will do my best to do it," he said. "I'm ready for the challenge so that's why I did what I have to do."
The 23-year-old delivered a 10-point, 12-rebound performance, to go along with three blocks — including a couple swats against his former junior.
Akowe came into the game averaging 24.5 points and 18 boards. But the 19-year-old had a difficult time penetrating inside this time as John, and PJ Palacielo stood their ground all game long.
"It was good to play against Collins, right now, he's the best," John said. "He's good, he's my boy… I know him, he's my friend. I'm glad to play against him."
Akowe made strides in high school with the Bullpups, where he won the boys' Most Valuable Player award in Season 86 and the first-ever Best Foreign Student-Athlete plum the very next year.
The Bulldogs will look to keep their streak alive when they face the defending champions UP Fighting Maroons on Oct. 4, 5 p.m., at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Meanwhile, UST will aim to bounce back against the University of the East Red Warriors earlier that day at 1:30 p.m.