The UP Fighting Maroons will represent the Philippines in the second season of the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL), which is set to take place from August 2 to 9.
According to the AUBL, the games will be held at the Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou, where teams from China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei will compete for the prestigious championship.
AUBL: Elite International Collegiate Basketball Tournament
Sanctioned by the Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF), the Asian University Basketball League, or AUBL, is a premier pan-regional intercollegiate basketball league featuring Asia’s most distinguished university programs.
AUBL made its debut in 2025 as an elite tournament and will return in August 2026 with another high-stakes competition before transitioning to a full home-and-away season format tipping off in November 2026.
The AUBL’s mission is to serve as a unifying platform for Asia’s student-athletes to compete at the highest level and advance the cultural impact of collegiate sports across the region.
12 Universities and Colleges Across the Globe
As the Philippines lone representative in the AUBL, the Fighting Maroons will compete against 11 of the best collegiate basketball teams in the world.
At the top of the list is National Chengchi University of Chinese Taipei, which won the inaugural championship last year after defeating Tsinghua University of China, 82–79.
The two schools are set to face off once again, with National Chengchi University aiming to defend its title.
Aside from the Philippines, five tournament newcomers are also set to take part in the second season of AUBL: University of Sydney (Australia), Korea University (South Korea), Waseda University (Japan), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China), and National University of Mongolia (Mongolia).
Meanwhile, the returning teams from last year are Peking University (China), Hakuoh University (Japan), Yonsei University (South Korea), and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong).
A Hectic Offseason for UP Entering UAAP Season 89
Before competing against some of the best collegiate teams in the world, the Fighting Maroons must first go through several local competitions as part of their buildup for UAAP Season 89.
Currently, UP is in the quarterfinals of the Asiabasket NSAC, where the Season 87 champions have won four straight games and are set to face the NU Bulldogs this May 23. Also taking place this May is the 19th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup, where the Fighting Maroons will compete against fellow UAAP teams as well as the Gilas Pilipinas Youth squad.
Meanwhile, UAAP Season 89 is expected to begin sometime between September and October. With the home-and-away format of the AUBL potentially clashing with the UAAP schedule, head coach Goldwin Monteverde and his coaching staff will have several important decisions to make.
With all of these competitions lined up, one can only imagine the level of fatigue these student-athletes will have to endure. Playing a schedule nearly equivalent to that of a professional ball club, the Fighting Maroons could either sharpen up for the upcoming UAAP season or tire out down the stretch of it.
