DE LA SALLE Green Archers will take their act to the Land of the Rising Sun as the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball champions represent the Philippines in the 2024 World University Basketball Series (WUBS).
Reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao & Co. are set to take center stage in the eight-team field featuring Asia's finest college basketball stars from Aug. 10 to 12 in Tokyo, Japan.
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Entering Year Two as head coach of the Green Archers, champion mentor Topex Robinson is keen on sharpening the chemistry and maturity of his title-winning unit.
"It will be a great opportunity for us to grow as a team because of the high level of competition in that tournament," Robinson told SPIN.ph.
Roughly four months since their historic UAAP title romp, the Green Archers have acquired the services of collegiate hotshots Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan and Luis Pablo for Season 88 before rolling out their preseason camp across various tournaments such as the PBA D-League, Pinoyliga and the FilOil Ecooil Preseason Cup.
Come WUBS 2024, albeit ineligible for the upcoming UAAP season to serve their residency, Robinson is eyeing a full Green Archers roster with their prized trifecta of young aces in their upcoming Japan tilt.
"We are looking at bringing them (Baclaan, Pablo and Cortez) to the trip," the La Salle mentor said.
In the first two editions of the WUBS, the Tab Baldwin-led Ateneo Blue Eagles completed a tournament sweep to be hailed inaugural champions in 2022 prior to a fourth-place finish in last year's competition.
But as the Green Archers take over for the 2024 tilt, they'll be up against the same opposition the Blue Eagles faced in the last two years.
Five of the eight competing teams, including tournament newcomer La Salle, have been announced to date featuring four returning schools in Korea University (Korea), Perbanas Institute (Indonesia), home team Hakuoh University (Japan) and reigning titleholder National Chengchi University (Chinese Taipei).
The Taft side's overseas trip will culminate its championship defense preparations before taking flight in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament later this year.
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