UP’s Favour Onoh Joins Oklahoma State Cowgirls in NCAA

Photo: UP OASD

The University of the Philippines (UP) continues to make waves on the international sports stage, with standout center Favour Onoh becoming the latest Fighting Maroon to break into US college basketball. The 6-foot-4 rookie phenom is heading to Oklahoma State University (OSU), where she will suit up for the Cowgirls in the NCAA.

Onoh, the UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year, made headlines during her debut season with dominant performances that helped propel UP’s women’s basketball team (WBT) to its first playoff berth since 2008. Averaging 11.0 points, 14.9 rebounds, and nearly 3 blocks per game, she quickly established herself as one of the league’s premier bigs.

But her journey hasn’t been without setbacks. A knee injury sidelined her for Season 87. Now fully recovered, the 19-year-old Nigerian talent is ready for the next chapter. “I’m super excited to play in the NCAA because it will help me gain experience and knowledge,” Onoh said. “It’s one step to my goal of playing professionally.”

Onoh credits UP not just for honing her basketball skills, but also for preparing her for life outside the court. “I would not be able to have this kind of opportunity without UP,” she said. “OSU will allow me to develop more. Aside from giving good education just like UP, it will also give me a better opportunity to play professionally.”

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She is scheduled to leave for Stillwater, Oklahoma on June 2, where she will begin training with the Cowgirls in preparation for the Big 12 Tournament.

UP’s Office for Athletics and Sports Development Director Bo Perasol expressed pride in Onoh’s achievement. “We are all proud of Favour and we will all continue supporting her,” he said. “Nakakabilib na in just a few years, may ganitong talent nang na-produce ang WBT natin.”

With this move, Onoh joins a growing list of Fighting Maroons making their mark abroad, including Javi and Juan Gomez de Liano, Carl Tamayo, JD Cagulangan, and Francis Lopez.

As Onoh charts a new path in the NCAA, the UP women’s team gears up for UAAP Season 88 with Louna Ozar and Kaye Pesquera expected to lead the charge.