GOING overseas seems to be the trend these days and UAAP teams themselves are joining the bandwagon.
Seven of the eight men’s basketball teams took their acts internationally, hoping that the change in atmosphere can uncover new learnings for their respective squads in the leadup to the upcoming UAAP Season 88.
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Defending champion University of the Philippines was the busiest, going to three countries across two continents in preparation for its back-to-back title drive.
The Fighting Maroons once again went to Serbia for a three-week sojourn in June, before a brief trip to Japan for the World University Basketball Series (WUBS) in Tokyo and one final training camp in Korea.
Ateneo was just as busy despite flying under the radar.
The Blue Eagles flew to Spain in June for a three-week training camp before heading to Japan in August for the five-team 2025 University Top League in Osaka where they won the crown against three other top local university squads.
National U also went to two countries, going to China then Korea.
The Bulldogs were triumphant in the 11th Xiamen International Elite University Basketball Championship in China in July before focusing on training and friendlies against Korean teams in August.
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La Salle’s lone trip was to Japan where it sought to defend its WUBS crown back in August. However, the Green Archers failed to repeat, losing to Korea University in a finals rematch of the year prior.
University of the East was the latest team to go abroad for training when it saw action in the 37th Promotion Cup in Jixi, China. Against fellow Asian teams, the Red Warriors registered a strong third place finish in that foray.
For the third straight year, University of Santo Tomas once again went to Korea and went around facing Korean Basketball League (KBL) clubs in tuneup games in a two-week span.
Far Eastern University went a different way, booking a trip to the U.S., as the Tamaraws tested their mettle playing pro-am teams in the Sacramento Professional Development Basketball League, including former NBA player Kent Bazemore.
Truly, the game has gone global, and varsity teams are doing their best to keep up.
With the new season looming, it’s going to be interesting what changes and innovations these journeys to foreign land will bring to these teams, as they battle for supremacy back inside our own shores.
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