On November 18, 2025, Pinoyliga League Founder Benny Benitez, together with former Collegiate Basketball star Mark “Big Mac” Andaya, gave an update on the 2025-26 Pinoyliga Alumni Cup during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association meeting at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
A Packed Year Ahead for Pinoyliga Basketball
Benny Benitez announced a full and ambitious schedule for what he described as one of the country’s most extensive basketball programs.
Speaking at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum, Benitez revealed that the action begins with the Pinoyliga Alumni Cup on November 29 at the Enderun Colleges Gym in Taguig City.
The Alumni Cup will feature premier collegiate programs, a mix of NCAA and UAAP teams, including defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, as well as:
- Ateneo de Manila University
- De La Salle University
- San Beda University
- University of Santo Tomas
- University of the East
- Mapúa University
- Adamson University
Benitez emphasized that the league’s chief aim is to reconnect former collegiate standouts with their alma mater.
“The objective is ibalik ang mga dating stars ng UAAP or NCAA na nag-pro or nag-artista or nag-business para maglaro ulit sa mga alma maters nila,” he said.
Joining him at the forum was former Letrán Knight and actor Big Mac Andaya, who highlighted the importance of rekindling old competitive fire and camaraderie among former players.
“Napakaganda kasi bumabalik ‘yung competitiveness namin. At the same time, bonding na din para sa aming mga alumni, and wearing our school uniforms, our names,” Andaya said.
The Alumni Cup will not only allow avid basketball fans to watch their childhood idols who have retired from the sport a couple of years ago, but it will also give the players a chance to play again with their teammates with whom they have not shared the court for a very long time.
Aside from old teammates playing again together and having a mini reunion with their alma mater, old rivalries will be renewed for certain teams, as it gives an opportunity for former star players to play with bragging rights.
Classic rivalries that have shaped the history of Philippine collegiate hoops are:
- Blue against Green: DLSU Green Archers vs ADMU Blue Eagles
- A Century-Old Battle: Letrán Knights vs San Beda Red Lions
Star-Studded Alumni Cup Lineups and Tournament Schedule
Benitez shared that the tournament will feature a number of notable former collegiate stars making their comeback on the hardwood.
Ateneo Blue Eagles are eyeing appearances by Charles Tiu, Chris Tiu, Doug Kramer, and Noy Baclao.
La Salle Green Archers is expected to field Ryan Arana, JV Casio, and Jerwin Gaco.
UE Red Warriors may see Paolo Hubalde, Ronald Tubid, KG Canaleta, and possibly even James Yap suit up.
The two-month event will open with the matchups on November 29 between:
- Mapua vs. La Salle
- UE vs. Letran
The competition then resumes on December 6. Then, after the Holiday Break, the action returns on the 2nd week of January 2026 and will continue up until the Finals, which will be played in March 2026.
More Events to Follow in Successive Months Until 2026
Beyond the Alumni Cup, Benitez outlined a much larger basketball initiative starting in January.
Pinoyliga will roll out several tournaments back-to-back: the Juniors Cup, Next Man Cup, Collegiate Cup, The Big Dance, Global Invitational, and the Women’s Cup.
“And this will run all the way until September [2026],” Benitez said, underscoring the league’s year-long programming.
The Next Man Cup allows the players from Team B of Collegiate Schools to shine as they battle other Team B players
Meanwhile, “The Big Dance” is the Philippine version of March Madness, where 32 college/university teams will battle it all out. Aside from UAAP and NCAA teams, other colleges are also invited here.
The Global Invitational is a Pocket Tournament hosted by the Philippines, as they invite international collegiate schools to play against the colleges/universities here in the Philippines.
Mr. Benitez has already invited 3 universities in Japan to participate in the Global Invitational 2026, as he is also looking for other Asian schools to be part of the tournament.
While the Women’s Cup is another basketball tournament where Filipina basketball players can showcase their talent while the WMPBL takes a break.
Developing Future Stars Through the Juniors and Collegiate Cup
Andaya noted that the Juniors Cup in particular will be a key stepping stone for rising high school players aiming for collegiate or professional careers.
“Maganda para sa mga bata, mga aspirants to prepare them for the bigger leagues,” he explained, emphasizing Pinoyliga’s role in nurturing the next generation of basketball talent.
Aside from that, the Collegiate Cup is a great thing for the fans as they are given an opportunity to see their collegiate idols who have transferred schools play immediately.
As the Pinoyliga Cup isn’t covered by the “Eligibility Rules” of the UAAP, wherein if a player/s transfers to a different university, he must sit out for one UAAP season.
A Unified Vision for Former and Aspiring Athletes
The combined efforts of Benitez, Andaya, and the league’s partners, which are: San Miguel Corp., the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and ArenaPlus, allowed them to highlight Pinoyliga’s commitment to both honoring basketball’s past and building its future.
With former stars returning to represent their schools and young prospects given a platform to grow, the Pinoyliga program aims to create a vibrant, competitive, and inclusive basketball environment that spans nearly the entire year.
