REINFORCEMENTS are arriving sooner than expected in the UAAP.

While it took time for the league to catch up with the NCAA's pioneering move nearly two decades ago to champion foreign student-athletes (FSAs) in collegiate basketball, it's now become the trailblazer when it comes to setting up another stage for so-called imports to shine.

That stage is the boys' basketball tournament, where in Season 87, half of the UAAP's eight member-schools now have an FSA suiting up.

To be clear, 'import' is a hollow word for the likes of San Beda's Sam Ekwe, La Salle's Ben Mbala, and Ateneo's Ange Kouame, considering the impact they made not just for their school, but for competition itself, and as students and athletes altogether.

That impact has now extended to high school, as teams correctly identified and built a brand new pipeline towards their seniors squads.

It remains to be seen whether reigning and defending MVP Collins Akowe does move up from Bullpup to Bulldog, but what's certain is that the current number of four FSAs in Season 87 will only grow over time.

Despite the entry of three new FSAs, narrowing the gap in competition, Akowe remains top dog, without a doubt.

Had things gone according to plan, the 19-year-old Nigerian would have been showcasing his talents elsewhere, with scouts in the U.S. originally at the forefront of his options. But when his preferred destination fell through, he embraced a new one, calling his eventual arrival in the Philippines a ‘great privilege.’

PHOTO: UAAP Media Bureau

And it reflects, as UAAP boys' first-ever foreign MVP is still a walking double-double, leading the charge to keep NU-Nazareth School undefeated so far in its redemption season.

Even with new faces eager to soil the Bullpups’ clean record, Akowe was more than happy to share the court with his fellow FSAs.

“It’s actually good… I think the competitive experience will be higher. I respect everyone, and I’m looking forward to play against them all,” he said modestly.

Athletes, especially FSAs, usually take time to get accustomed to the style of play and the intensity of Philippine basketball. The systems and the schemes are learning curves that not all newly-inducted players embrace off the rip.

Racine Kane isn’t one of those players.

PHOTO: UAAP Media Bureau

After a stumble to NUNS in the season opener, University of Santo Tomas has rang off five wins in a row, all with its Senegalese big averaging a double-double.

According to him, the Tiger Cubs have assistant coach Jinino Manansala to thank for recruiting him over to España.

“I know the Philippines [has] a good basketball [program]. With a strong team, you can progress fast here. That’s why I came,“ he said.

With his quick and consistent contributions for the black-and-gold, Kane is proving to be a plug-and-play big who can dominate for years to come.

Like many FSAs, even outside the UAAP, Jr. Warrior Jean Bana saw Philippine basketball as a good opportunity to expand his talent.

The Ivory Coast native decided to bet on himself when he took a leap of faith and joined the Recto squad. And to him, the UAAP is his proving ground where he can sharpen his skills.

As he put it, “Philippines can be a bigger opportunity for the younger players… They recruited me from my home country, and I like to take a challenge.”

PHOTO: UAAP Media Bureau

With Bana lining up at the tip donning the red-and-white, it’s clear that he doesn’t just want to compete - he wants to thrive.

Mben’s story is of conquering of an unfamiliar challenge given by a familiar friend.

As the 6-foot-7 cager recalls, he had already made a name for himself as a Division 1 player in his home country of Cameroon. But as his coach saw it, the real tests lay elsewhere - as his status was a testament to his skill, but also to the lower ceiling of competition back home.

“To reach my goal, my coach there told me to try to play outside first because it’s not good to play every time in the same country. We have to get more experience,” he shared.

PHOTO: UAAP Media Bureau

After that, a close friend pointed him towards the direction of De La Salle Zobel.

The friend in question? Former Green Archer and two-time MVP Mbala.

With Mbala standing as his guide through this new journey, Mben isn’t just accepting the challenge, he’s embracing it, with his expectation of nothing less than exceeding the accomplishments of his fellow Cameroonian.

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With the arrival of these four players, a new era of competition has dawned on the UAAP.

And these fantastic four may have been the first wave, but they definitely won’t be the last.

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