College sports fans, mark your calendars.
The UAAP Season 89 officially opens on September 12, 2026, and if the past few seasons are any indication, we’re about to get months of rivalries, packed arenas, breakout stars and dramatic Final Four races.
This year, Far Eastern University is taking over as host, with the theme:
Content
“For Everyone, UAAP”
The opening festivities will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, and both men’s and women’s collegiate basketball are being promoted to tip off on September 12.
And there are already plenty of storylines.
Can De La Salle University defend the men’s basketball championship?
Can UP return to the Finals yet again—and finally reclaim the title?
Can National University, which finished first after the Season 88 eliminations, turn another strong campaign into a championship?
How far can host FEU go with reigning UAAP MVP Janrey Pasaol?
Can UST build around Rookie of the Year Collins Akowe?
And what will the new-look Ateneo Blue Eagles look like under Louie Alas?
That’s only men’s basketball.
On the women’s side, UST enters as the defending champion after defeating National University in the Season 88 Finals.
So whether you’re supporting UP, Ateneo, La Salle, UST, FEU, NU, Adamson or UE, here’s my comprehensive guide to UAAP Season 89, including the opening date, teams, basketball schedule, standings, defending champions, players to watch, Final Four format, where to watch and other important updates.
Last updated: August 19, 2026. The UAAP has confirmed the September 12 opening, but the league’s official online schedule does not yet show the complete Season 89 collegiate basketball game-by-game calendar. This article can be updated once the full matchups, times and venues are officially posted.
UAAP Season 89 Quick Guide
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Season | UAAP Season 89 |
| Academic Year | 2026–2027 |
| Opening Date | September 12, 2026 |
| Opening Venue | SM Mall of Asia Arena |
| Host School | Far Eastern University |
| Theme | “For Everyone, UAAP” |
| Member Schools | 8 |
| Men’s Basketball Defending Champion | De La Salle University |
| Women’s Basketball Defending Champion | University of Santo Tomas |
| Season 88 Men’s MVP | Janrey Pasaol – FEU |
| Broadcast | One Sports / UAAP Varsity Channel |
| Full Basketball Schedule | To be announced / finalized |
| Men’s Standings | Season begins September 12 |
FEU formally accepted the Season 89 hosting duties when UST closed Season 88 in May.
When Does UAAP Season 89 Start?
UAAP Season 89 formally opens on:
September 12, 2026
at:
SM Mall of Asia Arena
in Pasay City.
And here’s another important detail for basketball fans:
Men’s and women’s basketball action is also expected to begin on September 12. One Sports has already promoted Season 89 collegiate hoops as tipping off on that date.
So unlike some UAAP seasons where the opening ceremony happens separately from the first major basketball games, September 12 should immediately feel like a full UAAP day.
Who Is Hosting UAAP Season 89?
The host is:
Far Eastern University
FEU received the hosting responsibility from the University of Santo Tomas during the Season 88 closing ceremonies. UST had just completed another successful overall campaign, winning both the collegiate and high-school general championships before formally passing the UAAP flag to FEU.
Season 89 chairman Juan Miguel R. Montinola of FEU received the league flag during the turnover.
And FEU isn’t treating this simply as an administrative responsibility.
The university has been emphasizing inclusivity and community as major ideas behind its season.
Which brings us to the theme.
What Is the UAAP Season 89 Theme?
The official Season 89 theme is:
“For Everyone, UAAP”
FEU unveiled the theme as it assumed hosting duties, presenting Season 89 as a celebration meant to extend beyond just athletes and schools to alumni, students, supporters and the wider community.
I actually like this one.
UAAP sports have always been about more than the people playing on the court.
You have students screaming from the upper box.
Alumni wearing school colors decades after graduation.
Parents traveling across Metro Manila to watch their children compete.
Pep squads.
Drummers.
Mascots.
Former players.
And fans who may never have studied at any of the schools but somehow became loyal to one team anyway.
That’s the UAAP.
And “For Everyone, UAAP” fits that spirit quite nicely.
What Schools Are in UAAP Season 89?
The UAAP consists of eight member universities.
They are:
Adamson University
Team: Soaring Falcons / Lady Falcons
Ateneo de Manila University
Team: Blue Eagles
De La Salle University
Team: Green Archers / Lady Archers
Far Eastern University
Team: Tamaraws / Lady Tamaraws
National University
Team: Bulldogs / Lady Bulldogs
University of the East
Team: Red Warriors / Lady Warriors
University of the Philippines
Team: Fighting Maroons
University of Santo Tomas
Team: Growling Tigers / Growling Tigresses
All eight schools are set to compete across various events during the season.
And if basketball is your main interest, these are the eight programs you’ll be following throughout the elimination round.
UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Schedule
Here’s the most important thing to know right now:
The full game-by-game schedule has not yet been officially posted.
The UAAP’s official schedule page currently does not display the complete Season 89 collegiate calendar.
What has been confirmed is:
September 12, 2026
UAAP Season 89 Opening
Venue
SM Mall of Asia Arena
Collegiate basketball
Men’s and women’s basketball are being promoted to begin on the same date.
Once the complete schedule is announced, expect games to be spread across familiar UAAP venues such as the Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum, although fans should wait for the official Season 89 calendar before making travel plans for a specific matchup.
UAAP Season 89 Schedule Tracker
This section will be useful once the official schedule is released.
| Date | Matchup | Time | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 12 | Opening Day – Matchups TBA | TBA | MOA Arena | — |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | — |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | — |
I’ll avoid inventing matchups before the UAAP posts them.
That’s especially important because preseason graphics and unofficial schedules can circulate online before the final league calendar is confirmed.
Current UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Standings
Since collegiate basketball has not started yet as of August 19, everybody begins at:
| Rank | Team | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Adamson | 0 | 0 |
| — | Ateneo | 0 | 0 |
| — | De La Salle | 0 | 0 |
| — | FEU | 0 | 0 |
| — | National U | 0 | 0 |
| — | UE | 0 | 0 |
| — | UP | 0 | 0 |
| — | UST | 0 | 0 |
The real standings will start taking shape after September 12.
And as anyone who follows the UAAP knows, don’t overreact after two games.
A team can look unbeatable in September and suddenly be fighting for fourth place by November.
That’s part of the fun.
Who Won UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball?
The defending champion is:
De La Salle University Green Archers
La Salle defeated the UP Fighting Maroons, 80–72, in Game 3 of the Season 88 Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on December 17, 2025.
That gave La Salle its:
11th UAAP men’s basketball championship.
The championship was particularly impressive because the Green Archers didn’t enter the Final Four as the top seed.
National University finished the eliminations at the top and UP was second, while La Salle had to fight its way into the postseason before eventually eliminating NU and then defeating UP in the Finals.
So the defending champions enter Season 89 knowing exactly how to survive pressure games.
De La Salle Green Archers – The Defending Champions
Every championship season changes the expectations for the next one.
La Salle won’t enter Season 89 simply as a contender.
They’re the team everyone gets to chase.
The Green Archers reached the Season 88 Finals after eliminating top-seeded National University, then went the distance against UP before winning Game 3.
The challenge now is defending the championship while dealing with the normal realities of college basketball:
players graduating,
eligibility ending,
new recruits arriving,
roles changing,
and every opponent treating the champion as one of the biggest games on its schedule.
Because that’s what happens when you win.
Nobody circles your game because they think you’re easy.
UP Fighting Maroons – Can They Get Back to the Top?
It almost feels strange to imagine a UAAP Finals without UP these days.
The Fighting Maroons reached their fifth consecutive men’s basketball Finals in Season 88, defeating UST in a dramatic semifinal.
But the title went to La Salle.
So UP enters Season 89 with another familiar combination:
championship expectations and unfinished business.
The Fighting Maroons also continue to build for the future.
One important addition is former FEU standout Veejay Pre, the Season 87 Rookie of the Year, whose transfer was structured for eligibility beginning in Season 89.
UP has also been recruiting heavily, including highly regarded younger talent as it prepares for the next phase of its program.
That’s why I would never count the Fighting Maroons out.
Even when the roster changes, UP has built a system where the expectation remains:
Final Four first. Championship next.
National University Bulldogs – Can They Finish the Job?
NU may have one of the biggest “what if?” stories coming out of last season.
The Bulldogs finished the Season 88 elimination round at:
11–3
earning the No. 1 seed and a twice-to-beat advantage.
They looked like legitimate championship favorites.
Then La Salle beat them twice in the Final Four.
Just like that, the top seed was gone.
That experience should provide plenty of motivation for Season 89.
NU already proved it can win consistently throughout an elimination round.
The next challenge is converting that consistency into postseason success.
Because in UAAP basketball, being No. 1 after 14 games is wonderful.
But everybody remembers who wins the Finals.
FEU Tamaraws – Host School With the Reigning MVP
Now this is interesting.
FEU isn’t simply hosting Season 89.
The Tamaraws also have the player who won the previous men’s basketball MVP award.
Janrey Pasaol
was officially named UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Most Valuable Player.
During the Season 88 MVP race, Pasaol was among the league leaders while producing across scoring, assists and defense for the Tamaraws.
But FEU finished outside the Final Four.
That gives Season 89 one of its clearest individual storylines:
Can the reigning MVP lead FEU back into championship contention?
And because FEU is also this year’s host, you can expect plenty of attention on the Tamaraws from opening day.
Imagine the host school making a Final Four run with the reigning MVP.
That would make “For Everyone, UAAP” a very enjoyable theme inside Morayta.
UST Growling Tigers – A Team Worth Watching
UST reached the Final Four last season and pushed UP all the way before losing 82–81 in the semifinal.
That’s about as painful as postseason losses get.
But UST also came away from Season 88 with one of the most promising young players in the league.
Collins Akowe
was named the Season 88 Rookie of the Year.
During the Season 88 MVP race, Akowe produced huge numbers, including averages of roughly 17.9 points and 15.1 rebounds at the stage reported by GMA in November.
A player capable of controlling the paint like that can completely change a college basketball game.
So don’t be surprised if UST is again right in the middle of the Final Four conversation.
Ateneo Blue Eagles – A Very Different Season 89
Ateneo enters Season 89 under circumstances much more serious than basketball.
The program was shaken by the June deaths of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team activity in Aurora.
Following investigations, the UAAP announced on August 7 that the Ateneo men’s basketball team would remain eligible to compete in Season 89, while former head coach Tab Baldwin received a perpetual league ban and other personnel faced sanctions.
The team is now being led by:
Louie Alas
who was appointed interim head coach in July.
And his son, highly regarded rookie Kieffer Alas, is among the young players expected to draw considerable attention. Kieffer had previously said the team hoped to dedicate its coming season to Baterbonia and Adili.
Ateneo returned to competitive basketball in August with a preseason victory over Our Lady of Fatima University, giving the group its first game back after the tragedy.
So Season 89 will clearly be about more than wins and losses for the Blue Eagles.
Adamson Soaring Falcons
Adamson missed the Final Four last season but remained competitive enough that the Falcons could never simply be treated as an automatic win.
Season 88 ended with Adamson outside the postseason, while NU, UP, UST and La Salle reached the Final Four.
That’s the challenge for Adamson in Season 89:
turning competitive performances into enough victories to break back into the top four.
In a 14-game elimination round, you don’t need to be unbeatable.
You need to win enough close games.
And every upset against a contender can completely change the Final Four race.
UE Red Warriors
If any team enters Season 89 desperate for a fresh start, it’s probably UE.
The Red Warriors endured a difficult Season 88 and finished the elimination round 0–14.
Nobody wants to carry that record into the next season.
The good thing about college sports?
Every new season really does reset everything.
New players arrive.
Older players get bigger roles.
Chemistry changes.
A few wins can completely change a team’s confidence.
UE doesn’t need to become an instant championship favorite for Season 89 to be meaningful.
The first goal is much simpler:
start winning again.
My Early UAAP Season 89 Teams to Watch
Without pretending that August preseason basketball can predict everything, I’d put these programs near the center of the conversation.
De La Salle
They’re the defending champions.
Until somebody beats the champions when it matters, they deserve respect.
UP
Five straight Finals appearances tells you how consistently strong the program has become.
National U
An 11–3 record and No. 1 seed last season showed that NU can compete with anyone over a full elimination round.
UST
Final Four experience plus a rising star in Collins Akowe makes the Tigers fascinating.
FEU
Any team with the reigning league MVP deserves attention—especially when that team is hosting the season.
And Ateneo?
I’d classify the Blue Eagles as the biggest wildcard because of everything that has changed around their program.
UAAP Season 89 Women’s Basketball
Don’t ignore the women’s tournament.
The women’s side produced one of the best stories of Season 88.
UST Growling Tigresses – Defending Champions
UST completed an extraordinary elimination round by going:
14–0
and advancing directly to the Finals under the UAAP’s sweep provisions.
National University then shocked UST in Game 1.
The Tigresses responded.
They eventually won the deciding Game 3 and captured their:
13th UAAP women’s basketball championship.
So UST begins Season 89 as the team everyone is trying to dethrone.
National U Lady Bulldogs
And you can be sure NU hasn’t forgotten that Finals loss.
For years, the Lady Bulldogs have been one of the dominant programs in Philippine women’s collegiate basketball.
Season 88 almost produced another championship after NU stunned unbeaten UST in Game 1 of the Finals.
UST recovered and won the series.
Now we could get another chapter of:
UST vs NU
in Season 89.
I wouldn’t complain.
UP Women’s Basketball Is Rebuilding Too
UP has made several interesting additions for Season 89.
The Fighting Maroons added Filipino-American and foreign student-athlete reinforcements during the offseason, including players announced in July and August.
That’s another storyline worth watching as UP attempts to become more competitive in the women’s division.
How Does the UAAP Basketball Format Work?
The traditional UAAP basketball setup begins with a:
Double Round-Robin Elimination
With eight teams, each team generally plays every other team twice.
That means:
14 elimination games per team
assuming the standard eight-team format remains unchanged.
After the elimination round, the top teams advance to the postseason.
The UAAP’s established Final Four format normally gives the top two teams twice-to-beat advantages over the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds. If a team sweeps the eliminations, special stepladder provisions may apply.
What Is a Twice-to-Beat Advantage?
This is one of the things that makes the UAAP Final Four so interesting.
Normally:
No. 1 plays No. 4
and
No. 2 plays No. 3.
The higher-ranked team only needs to win once.
The lower-ranked team needs to beat them twice.
That’s the reward for finishing in the top two.
And Season 88 showed that the advantage is valuable—but not unbeatable.
Top-seeded NU had the twice-to-beat advantage against La Salle.
La Salle beat them twice anyway.
That’s March Madness-style drama arriving a few months early.
What Happens if a Team Sweeps the Eliminations?
A 14–0 sweep triggers a special postseason scenario.
The undefeated team can advance directly to the championship round, while the remaining qualifying teams navigate a stepladder playoff.
That’s exactly why UST’s 14–0 women’s basketball run in Season 88 sent the Growling Tigresses straight to the Finals.
Sweeping the UAAP is extremely difficult.
You’re not only trying to beat seven different teams.
You have to beat every one of them twice.
One bad afternoon ruins the sweep.
UAAP Season 89 Results Tracker
Once September 12 arrives, this can become one of the most useful sections of the article.
Men’s Basketball
| Date | Winner | Score | Loser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 12 | TBA | — | TBA |
| TBA | — | — | — |
Women’s Basketball
| Date | Winner | Score | Loser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 12 | TBA | — | TBA |
| TBA | — | — | — |
The UAAP’s official site should be monitored for the finalized calendar and live-statistics information once collegiate competition begins.
Players to Watch in UAAP Season 89
Final rosters can still change, but several names are already obvious.
Janrey Pasaol – FEU
The defending men’s MVP.
That’s enough reason to watch him.
Pasaol enters the new season with expectations far different from a year ago.
Now everybody knows exactly how dangerous he is.
Collins Akowe – UST
Season 88 Rookie of the Year.
Akowe quickly developed into one of the most productive big men in the league and was already near the top of the statistical race during his rookie season.
The frightening part for opposing teams?
He’s no longer a rookie.
Kieffer Alas – Ateneo
One of the most recognizable young basketball prospects entering the UAAP.
Kieffer joins a Blue Eagles program going through major changes and will likely receive plenty of attention throughout his rookie campaign.
The pressure will be substantial.
But high-level prospects come to the UAAP for exactly these kinds of moments.
Veejay Pre – UP
Former UAAP Rookie of the Year Veejay Pre transferred from FEU to UP with Season 89 identified as the point when he could begin playing for the Fighting Maroons.
That alone makes his UP debut one of the most anticipated individual storylines of the season.
And yes:
A potential UP vs FEU meeting becomes a little more interesting when a former Tamaraw is wearing maroon.
Rivalries to Watch
UAAP basketball wouldn’t be UAAP without rivalries.
Ateneo vs La Salle
Still the matchup casual fans recognize immediately.
Even when one team isn’t contending for a championship, the atmosphere changes when blue meets green.
UP vs La Salle
This has become one of the league’s defining modern rivalries.
They met again in the Season 88 Finals, with La Salle winning Game 3, 80–72.
A Season 89 rematch should attract plenty of attention.
UP vs Ateneo
The Katipunan rivalry continues to produce packed arenas and emotional games.
Now both programs are entering interesting transitional periods, which should make the matchup even more unpredictable.
UST vs FEU
Two historic UAAP programs with enormous alumni bases.
And this year FEU has another reason to care:
They’re hosting.
FEU vs UP
Watch this one because of Veejay Pre’s move from FEU to UP.
College basketball fans love transfer storylines.
And the first game against your former school?
That’s usually a little louder.
Where to Watch UAAP Season 89
For television viewers, One Sports remains one of the primary destinations for UAAP coverage.
Cignal also carries the dedicated:
UAAP Varsity Channel
which offers college sports programming and UAAP coverage.
One Sports has specifically promoted Season 89 basketball beginning September 12 on One Sports and the UAAP Varsity Channel.
So the main options to watch include:
- One Sports
- UAAP Varsity Channel
- Additional Cignal/digital platforms when officially announced for specific games
Always check the day’s official broadcast schedule because simultaneous sports may be assigned to different platforms.
Can You Watch UAAP Season 89 for Free?
One Sports provides free-to-air television coverage of selected UAAP games, while the UAAP Varsity Channel is available through qualifying Cignal subscriptions.
Streaming availability can vary, so watch for updated announcements once the season begins.
I wouldn’t rely on random livestream links posted in comment sections.
Apart from being unreliable, they tend to disappear at the worst possible moment.
Usually right when the game is tied with 20 seconds left.
UAAP Season 89 Tickets
Ticket-selling details can vary depending on the venue and game.
Major games—especially:
Ateneo vs La Salle
UP vs La Salle
Final Four games
and the Finals
can sell quickly.
For regular games, tickets may be distributed through arena ticketing systems and participating universities depending on the specific arrangement.
As of August 19, the complete public ticketing information for the September 12 Season 89 opening is not yet consistently posted across the league’s official schedule channels, so I’d wait for an official UAAP, FEU or arena announcement rather than purchasing from unofficial sellers.
Where Is the MOA Arena?
The SM Mall of Asia Arena is inside the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.
It is one of the UAAP’s primary venues and will host the Season 89 opening on September 12.
If you’re attending opening day, give yourself extra travel time.
A UAAP opening plus weekend Mall of Asia traffic is not the combination where you want to say:
“Okay lang, 20 minutes lang siguro.”
It may not be 20 minutes.
Other Sports in UAAP Season 89
Basketball gets the largest mainstream attention early in the season, but UAAP Season 89 is much bigger than basketball.
The UAAP stages championships across numerous sports, which traditionally include competitions such as:
- Volleyball
- Football
- Athletics
- Swimming
- Badminton
- Table Tennis
- Chess
- Judo
- Taekwondo
- Fencing
- Baseball
- Softball
- Tennis
- Beach Volleyball
- 3×3 Basketball
- Esports
- Cheerdance
- High-school competitions
The exact Season 89 schedule for each sport is released according to the league calendar.
In fact, the Season 89 16U boys’ basketball tournament already began on August 15, even before the main collegiate opening in September.
So technically, some Season 89 competition is already underway.
But September 12 remains the big formal opening for the season.
Don’t Forget UAAP Volleyball
Once basketball finishes, attention will eventually swing heavily toward volleyball.
And recent UAAP seasons have shown that women’s volleyball can generate interest comparable to—or sometimes even greater than—many basketball games.
FEU’s men’s volleyball team reached the Season 88 Finals, while several major programs will again have championship ambitions heading into Season 89.
The detailed Season 89 volleyball schedule will come later.
But if you’re planning to follow the entire season rather than basketball alone, UAAP doesn’t end in December.
There’s plenty more coming.
What Happened in UAAP Season 88?
Here’s a quick recap before Season 89 begins.
Men’s Basketball Champion
De La Salle Green Archers
Defeated UP in Game 3 of the Finals, 80–72.
Women’s Basketball Champion
UST Growling Tigresses
Defeated National University in the championship series to win their 13th title.
Men’s Basketball MVP
Janrey Pasaol – FEU
Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year
Collins Akowe – UST
Collegiate General Champion
University of Santo Tomas
UST won its 49th collegiate UAAP general championship, scoring 356 points and winning 10 championships during Season 88.
Then UST handed the hosting duties to FEU.
And Season 89 begins.
What I’m Most Excited to See in Season 89
There are several questions I want answered.
Can La Salle repeat?
Winning one championship is difficult.
Winning back-to-back titles is even harder because everybody spends the offseason trying to figure out how to beat you.
Does UP reach a sixth straight Finals?
Five consecutive appearances is already remarkable.
A sixth would reinforce just how consistent the Fighting Maroons program has become.
Can NU recover?
Going 11–3 and then losing in the Final Four hurts.
Sometimes that kind of loss breaks a team.
Sometimes it creates the hunger that wins the next championship.
What does Janrey Pasaol do for an encore?
Winning MVP changes the way defenses treat you.
Now teams design entire game plans around stopping you.
How good can Collins Akowe become?
He was already Rookie of the Year.
What happens when he’s more experienced?
What does Ateneo look like?
The Blue Eagles’ basketball program has gone through an extraordinary and painful offseason. Their return to competition under Louie Alas will be closely watched.
That’s a lot of storylines before we’ve even reached opening day.
UAAP Season 89 FAQs
When does UAAP Season 89 start?
UAAP Season 89 officially opens on September 12, 2026.
Where is the UAAP Season 89 opening?
The opening is scheduled at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Who is the UAAP Season 89 host?
Far Eastern University is the host of Season 89.
What is the UAAP Season 89 theme?
The theme is:
“For Everyone, UAAP.”
When does UAAP Season 89 basketball start?
One Sports has announced that men’s and women’s collegiate basketball will tip off on September 12, 2026.
Is the complete UAAP Season 89 basketball schedule available?
Not yet as of August 19. The official UAAP schedule page currently does not display the full game-by-game Season 89 collegiate schedule.
How many teams compete in UAAP basketball?
There are eight member schools: Adamson, Ateneo, La Salle, FEU, NU, UE, UP and UST.
Who won UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball?
The De La Salle Green Archers defeated UP in Game 3 of the Finals, 80–72, to win their 11th championship.
Who won UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball?
The UST Growling Tigresses defeated National University and captured their 13th women’s basketball title.
Who is the defending UAAP MVP?
FEU’s Janrey Pasaol is the reigning men’s basketball MVP.
Who was the Season 88 Rookie of the Year?
UST’s Collins Akowe won men’s basketball Rookie of the Year.
Is Ateneo playing in Season 89?
Yes. The UAAP announced on August 7 that the Ateneo men’s basketball team remains eligible to compete in Season 89 following the league’s investigation into the June team-activity tragedy.
Who is Ateneo’s coach?
Louie Alas was named interim head coach ahead of Season 89.
Where can I watch UAAP Season 89?
UAAP coverage is available through One Sports and Cignal’s UAAP Varsity Channel, with additional platform details depending on the event.
What is the Final Four format?
Under the traditional format, the top four teams advance, with the top two normally holding twice-to-beat advantages against the third- and fourth-ranked teams. Special stepladder rules can apply if a team sweeps the elimination round.
Final Thoughts
There’s something about the start of another UAAP season that always feels exciting.
Maybe it’s the school colors.
The drums.
The crowd.
The rivalries.
Or simply knowing that several players we’re about to watch as college students could eventually become Gilas Pilipinas stars, professional athletes or national-team standouts.
Season 89 already has plenty going for it.
La Salle is defending a championship.
UP wants another shot at the title.
NU wants redemption.
FEU has the reigning MVP and the responsibility of hosting.
UST has one of the league’s most exciting young big men.
Ateneo is beginning a deeply emotional new chapter.
And Adamson and UE have every reason to believe that a new season means a fresh opportunity.
Then there’s women’s basketball, where defending champion UST and perennial powerhouse NU could be heading toward another fascinating battle.
It all begins officially on:
September 12, 2026
at the:
SM Mall of Asia Arena
under FEU’s Season 89 theme:
“For Everyone, UAAP.”
The full collegiate basketball schedule is still coming, so the exact opening matchups, game times and subsequent venues should be updated once the UAAP posts the official calendar.
But one thing is already clear.
College basketball is almost back.
Eight schools.
One championship.
And several months of fans arguing over standings, referees, MVP races, Final Four scenarios and probably at least one game that will come down to the final possession.
Welcome to UAAP Season 89.
