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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Reigning champ UP, UST add talented bigs

Reigning champ UP, UST add talented bigs

Published Jun 24, 2025 02:07 pm

At A Glance

  • Reigning champion University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas are on the move during the off-season, securing themselves additional big men for the upcoming UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament.
Collins Akowe (UAAP)
Collins Akowe (UAAP)
Reigning champion University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas are on the move during the off-season, securing themselves additional big men for the upcoming UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
As Quentin Millora-Brown, Aldous Torculas, and Francis Lopez bid their farewells, the Fighting Maroons wasted no time searching for new pieces for their roster and found one in Migs Palanca.
Palanca, a standout from National University-Nazareth School program, opted to continue his collegiate career in UP after exploring options in UAAP and NCAA.
Last season, the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 9.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game in the Bullpups’ runner-up finish after bowing to the UST Tiger Cubs in three games.
“Kinailangan natin ‘to, add size, and we saw naman talaga ‘yong potential ni Palanca. Magiging malaking tulong siya sa atin hindi lang for next season, but for five full years,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde. “Pero siyempre, bata pa yan. Nire-remind lang din natin na stay focused and whatever challenges that we will be facing, laban lang.”
UP is soldiering on in its title defense this year as most of its starters had already left. However, the Fighting Maroons are still a threat as they still flaunt Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, Mark Belmonte, Jacob Bayla, to list a few, in its frontline.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Manila, UST seemed to have hit a jackpot as Palanca’s ex-teammate Collins Akowe made a shocking decision recently after transferring from NUNS to UST seniors team, the España-based team announced.
Akowe, 19, was a force to be reckoned with in the juniors division where he tallied an emphatic 20.8 points, 18.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks. He was an MVP in Season 86 and copped the first-ever Best Foreign Student-Athlete plum in the following year.
Akowe could be the next big thing for the Growling Tigers who are aiming to become a solid Final Four contender once again.
He is a perfect acquisition for Pido Jarencio as their former big man Mo Tounkara jumped into the pro scene. He is expected to play well with Gelo Crisostomo, Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao.

Related Tags

UAAP NU Bulldogs UST Growling Tigers UP Fighting Maroons
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