UP Fighting Maroons to represent PH in 2026 Asian University Basketball League

The University of the Philippines will test its mettle against the best collegiate clubs in the region as it represents the country in the 2026 Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) in China this August.

The Fighting Maroons is among the 12 teams competing in the tournament's second edition, which runs from August 2 to 9 at the Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.

The 2026 edition will see six holdover teams and six new faces, including UP, which finished as a runner-up in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball after falling to De La Salle University in the finals.

Leading the field are defending champion National Chengchi University of Chinese Taipei, last year's runner-up Tsinghua University of China, Hakuoh University of Japan, Yonsei University of Korea, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Peking University.

UP, Korea University, National University of Mongolia, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, University of Sydney, and Waseda University are all making their debut.

"The 2026 AUBL tournament brings together some of the most established university basketball programs across Asia, including exciting first-time participants from the Philippines and Australia," AUBL senior vice president Greg Stolt said.

"For fans, this is what university basketball is all about--- a close connection to the game and players that you cannot find anywhere else, student-athletes testing themselves against top competition from across the region, the pride, tradition, and atmosphere that make collegiate sports so special."

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA News