COLLINS Akowe has taken the league by storm that two games in, he has asserted himself as the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award.
But before he can think about the future, he has to face ghosts of his past when University of Santo Tomas takes on National U in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament on Wednesday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
Akowe, for his part, doesn't want to get too caught up with the chatter, saying, "I'm with UST now. It's all in my past. I'm just excited to face them," as the Growling Tigers aim for their first 3-0 start in a decade.
READ: UST beating UP, La Salle early on proves nothing just yet, reminds Padrigao
The last time that the Espana side won their first three games was in Season 78, where the black-and-gold reached the finals.
On the flipside, Bulldogs coach Jeff Napa is holding his cards close to his chest, as they brace for Akowe who was nurtured in their backyard at NU-Nazareth School.
"Sa amin na lang yun," when asked how he plans to neutralize the dominant Nigerian big. "Matagal din naman siya sa amin kaya alam namin kung ano yung kaya ni Collins, pero susubukan naming gawin kung ano yung kaya namin para manalo."
Game time between the two undefeated teams is at 4:30 p.m., following the 2 p.m. game when La Salle (1-1) seeks to bounce back against winless Far Eastern University (0-2).
The Green Archers are hungry to redeem themselves after a stunning 93-84 loss to UST, with Mike Phillips and Co. hoping for a short memory.
But doing so won't be easy, especially against the Tamaraws who remain determined to charge to victory even after an 84-68 blowout loss to NU.
THE rivalry in women's basketball
Over on the women's side, NU and UST engage in an early clash, as the finals protagonists of the last two years cross paths at 7 p.m.
READ: NU-UST III looms over UAAP Season 88
Tin Cayabyab powered the Lady Bulldogs to a fantastic start to their title retention bid, clobbering the Lady Tamaraws in an 89-64 rout four days ago to also give DA Olan his first win as their head coach.
But the first-year mentor said to expect little change in Jhocson, saying, "It's still going to be the same team na naglaro sa training camp. I got my knowledge of the game from coach Aris [Dimaunahan], so probably it’s gonna be the same concepts and principles. Wala talaga masyadong bago at walang mag-iiba sa amin."
Oma Onianwa, meanwhile, imposed her presence in the Growling Tigresses' 105-56 beatdown of the Lady Archers, as the hosts started the season on the right note.
Coach Haydee Ong, though, said that no teams are pushovers this year even after that big victory.
"Kailangan pagtrabahuan mo para manalo ka dito sa women's, so we have to prepare the same against NU. What’s more exciting is that we’re elevating the level of play ng women’s basketball," she said.
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