AFTER three years of playing for the reserve team, William Afoakwah will finally get to show his game.
The 6’6” Afoakwah will take over scoring machine Karim Abdul’s responsibilities as the Tigers’ new bigman this Season 79.
“I just wanna get over there and give what I can [to the team]. As coach told me, ‘Just trust your teammates and everything is going to be fine,’” Afoakwah told the Varsitarian.
The Ghanian center has been training with the Tigers since 2012 after he left De La Salle University.
Afoakwah possesses quickness and athleticism, which will be useful against other bigmen like FEU’s Prince Orizu and Ateneo’s Chibueze Ikeh. But he also needs to improve his shooting and other fundamentals.
Humble beginnings
Afoakwah’s mother introduced him to basketball, accompanying him in his games and training sessions.
“My mom was a fan of Michael Jordan, so my mom brought me to [Africa] Basketball Academy and I started playing basketball,” Afoakwah said.
The kid from Ghana found his first home in Taft with the Green Archers.
“It was tough. I didn’t know anything [back then], can’t even speak Tagalog [while I was here in the Philippines,]” he said.
During his stay in La Salle, he was just participating in the La Salle’s basketball practices without even thinking he would make it in the roster.
Since Afoakwah will be playing under UST coach Boy Sablan’s run and gun system, he has to develop his stamina, said UST conditioning coach John Aquino
“Sanay siya sa slow. He gets away with his size and strength. I’m trying to give him explosive drills na would help him to become quicker [and] tougher,” Aquino said.
