UAAP: UP Coach Monteverde admits Maroons had ‘no answer’ for UST rookie FSA

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers made an emphatic statement to start UAAP Season 88, dismantling defending champion University of the Philippines, 87-67, behind a monster debut from foreign student-athlete Collins Akowe.

Akowe wasted no time introducing himself to the league, erupting for 29 points and 17 rebounds to power UST past the Fighting Maroons, who looked rattled in their first game as reigning champions. 

The result not only spoiled UP’s opener but also thrust UST into the conversation as a dark-horse contender.

UST Growling Tigers win their #UAAPSeason88 opener against the defending champs, the UP Fighting Maroons, 87–67.

This is their first win over UP in the UAAP since the Season 82 semifinals, when Renzo Subido hit this clutch three-pointer.

Congrats, Tigers! pic.twitter.com/xfRR5A2zBK

— 𝐕𝐓 (@volleytiger) September 21, 2025

“We all know the capability of Collins and we really prepared for him,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde. “But then as a team, it should never be one versus one. It should be one versus five.”

UP had its own foreign student-athlete making his debut in Francis Nnoruka, but the Nigerian big man struggled to keep pace, finishing with six points, 11 boards, and two blocks. Monteverde admitted that Akowe’s presence in the paint proved overwhelming.

“We didn’t react well or we didn’t respond well [against Akowe, and] that’s something we need to learn,” he said.

The setback marked UP’s first UAAP opening-day loss since Season 84 and its first defeat to UST since the Season 82 stepladder, when the Tigers stunned the Maroons despite the latter’s twice-to-beat advantage.

Still, Monteverde urged his team to use the humbling loss as fuel moving forward. “We have to find ways to face these challenges,” he stressed.

 “No matter how hard it is, they need to stay together and find out what needs to be improved on.”

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