NO doubt, Collins Akowe was worth the hype for University of Santo Tomas, as he announced his arrival to UAAP Season 88 in great fashion on Sunday.
The Nigerian big carried the load for the Growling Tigers in his seniors debut, as they delivered a massive statement in the form of a dominating 87-67 blowout win over defending champion University of the Philippines.
READ: Collins Akowe after 29-17 debut for UST: 'I can do more'
Easily, it was one of the best performances for any rookie in recent memory - one that really shouldn't come as a surprise from the onetime Boys' Basketball MVP and first-ever Best Foreign Student-Athlete (FSA).
More importantly, Akowe's monstrous performance also showed a glimpse of what the future holds for Espana.
But it begs to ask: how did he hold up against the debuts of UST's past great FSAs?
Karim Abdul
Abdul arrived in Espana with little fanfare, graduating from Sta. Clara International Academy in Antipolo.
And it seemed like things would remain silent when he made his Growling Tigers debut back in July 14, 2011, only scoring five points and three rebounds in 20 minutes of play in UST's thrilling 73-72 overtime win over National U to start Season 74.
As it turned out, the Cameroonian big was just getting warmed up.
Abdul would pick things up in the second round and emerged as the league's best rebounder with 11.7 boards per game to help the Pido Jarencio-coached Growling Tigers make it to the Final Four.
That was more of the norm for the entirety of his stay there, finishing all of his five playing years anchoring UST to three finals appearances, while also making it to the Mythical Team thrice.
Soulemane Chabi Yo
Much was expected from Chabi Yo when he transferred from Colegio de San Lorenzo to UST. And in his first game for the black-and-gold, he showed just that.
The Beninese forward registered 19 points and 12 rebounds in his promising debut for the Growling Tigers, playing the perfect complement to Rhenz Abando and CJ Cansino.
Altogether, they helped Aldin Ayo-mentored UST take the 95-82 victory over University of the East to open their Season 82 campaign back in Sept. 4, 2019.
Little did everyone know, Chabi Yo would turn out to be more of a Batman than a Robin, winning MVP honors, as he powered the Growling Tigers to the finals before settling for the runner-up finish against Ateneo.
Mo Tounkara
Unlike his predecessors, Tounkara had to fight for his spot on the Season 87 roster, beating out Peter Osang.
And he sure made the coaches looked like geniuses for picking him, turning heads in his debut where he put up 13 points, four rebounds, and two steals in UST's 70-55 win over the Red Warriors back in Sept. 8, 2024.
The Malian center's play provided the Growling Tigers the inside presence they badly needed, a harbinger of things to come for the remainder of the season.
Tounkara was a consistent force for Jarencio that he nabbed 13.8 points and 10.2 rebounds and would also have had a case for a Mythical Team selection had he not been slapped with a one-game suspension.
Nonetheless, he aided UST's Final Four return after five years before being given the boot by the eventual champion Fighting Maroons.
That proved to be Tounkara's lone year for the Thomasians, as he opted to turn pro in the offseason.
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