COLLINS Akowe has built a reputation as a beast inside the paint, but the 6-foot-9 University of Santo Tomas big knows that taking over games is only one part of what he is expected to do.
In the Growling Tigers' home win over Ateneo at the Quadricentennial Pavilion last Saturday, Akowe turned in his best two-way performance yet in UAAP Season 89, finishing with 18 points and 15 rebounds to help his side close out the first round on a high note.
READ: Llemit, Akowe keep UST, Ateneo trending in opposite directions
But beyond the numbers, the Nigerian center saw something else in his performance he hopes to carry into the second round: a cooler, calmer, and more collected approach that allows the game to come to him rather than forcing the issue.
“Today, I was really at my best. I felt good, and playing at home, in front of our own crowd, made me feel loose. I didn't feel pressured. I was just going with the flow, and the crowd helped, too. It was a good feeling to play at home again,” he told SPIN.ph.
Collins answers the call
For a player whose physicality and aggressive presence have made him one of the UST's sharpest tools, learning when to take over and when to let his teammates work has become an important part of his development.
Akowe is not looking to tone down his impact. Rather, he wants to make it more deliberate, especially for when the black-and-gold gears up for a second-round push.
“I'm still working on my decision-making and being there for my teammates when they need me. I want to be able to step up when they need me, so those are things I'm still improving on. Hopefully, I can apply all of that in the second round,” he said.
“I'm just trying not to force things and to let things happen naturally. I'm letting my teammates do what they have to do. I don't want it to be all about me. I want to be more of a team guy,” he added.
It is a different kind of dominance for the Growling Tigers big, one that goes beyond overpowering opponents in the paint.
Becoming a more selfless player does not mean being less aggressive. It means knowing when his team needs the beast and when it needs the teammate.
And if his performance against the Blue Eagles is any indication, Akowe is beginning to find that balance at the right time for UST.
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