COLLINS Akowe was so surprised that he played all but four minutes in University of Santo Tomas' exhausting 98-89 triple-overtime victory against Ateneo on Saturday that he can only quip an expletive.
"So that's why I'm cramping," he said with a grin.
READ: UST raids Jared's house, ruins Ateneo homecoming in 3OT classic
Fatigue, though, hardly matters for Akowe, as the Growling Tigers came out on top to grab a share of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball leadership at 4-1.
Of course, he had a big hand in accomplishing that by pouring his heart out to post 20 points, 19 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks in 51 tireless minutes of play for the black-and-gold.
"There's no such thing as a better feeling than getting the win. They said there's some kind of home advantage (for Ateneo), but for us, getting the win is a good thing," he said, while also dedicating this win to Blue Eagle-turned-Growling Tiger playmaker Forthsky Padrigao.
The Nigerian center also shared that it felt like the finals there at the Blue Eagle Gym, especially with the crowd split in half between the duelling seas of yellow and blue.
And hearing the fans chant "Go USTe!" only fuelled Akowe to take his game to the next level, making four of his six charities in the extra frames after missing his first six free throws in regulation.
"I was hyped, bro! I was hyped! Like when they were shouting, 'Go USTe!' I was hyped and I got to play for this crowd, I got to go all-out," he professed.
More than anything, Akowe believes that this huge conquest only serves as UST's way of putting the league on notice.
"We're ready, you know. We'll keep on working day in and day out. Whatever opportunity arises, we need to take it," he said. "So I think we're ready, we're ready for the big stage."
Rest assured for Akowe
But will Akowe do it all again?
He responds: "Coach Pido [Jarencio] won't let me rest, but if it's in the game, I'll go all-out."
"But for now, I need to rest," he said, bidding his goodbyes.
Until the next game, we guess.
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