MANILA, Philippines -- In the wake of the news that University of Santo Tomas (UST) center Steve Akomo has been diagnosed with a blood clot in his brain, UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag reiterated that the league is “committed to the health and safety of its student-athletes.”

Akomo is currently confined at the UST Hospital, having already missed the Growling Tigers’ last two games of the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.

He was initially thought to have suffered from food poisoning, but apparently suffered a more serious ailment.

As of Tuesday afternoon, his neurosurgeon has revealed that there is “a gradual healing of the clot" and there is no need for Akomo to undergo surgery.

However, his situation remains serious and Akomo is still under observation for the rest of the week.

• READ: UST's Steve Akomo confined due to head trauma, blood clot

“We have yet to receive an official statement from Steve Akomo’s physicians regarding his condition and its proximate cause,” Saguisag said in a message to ABS-CBN News. “Nevertheless, we ask everyone to join us in prayer for Steve’s speedy recovery and eventual return to the hard court.”

“Allow us to state that the UAAP is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its student-athletes,” he added. “The addition of a Concussion Safety Protocol is consistent to that end.”

However, Saguisag admitted in an interview with sports website Spin.ph that so far there is no established concussion protocol in the UAAP, but acknowledged that the league has “to come up with clear guidelines as soon as possible.”

According to The Varsitarian, Akomo’s injury stemmed from his collision with Adamson University’s Papi Sarr in their game last September 22. The UST big man remained in that game, and even played in their contest against Ateneo de Manila University before sitting out their next two games.

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