THE University of the Philippines and La Salle try to rekindle their rivalry overseas when they represent the Philippines in the World University Basketball Series this weekend.
Both the Fighting Maroons and the Green Archers have arrived in Tokyo, Japan as they continue their preseason preparations for the upcoming UAAP Season 88.
UP, fresh off a three-peat in the PlayTime Cares Filoil EcoOil 18th Preseason Cup, is seeking to continue its blaze of glory, as it participates in the invitational tournament for the first time.
Seniors Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, and Reyland Torres lead the charge for State U, as coach Goldwin Monteverde also seeks to give more seasoning to newcomers Francis Nnoruka and Rey Remogat.
La Salle, on the other hand, is determined to defend the WUBS crown it won last year by beating Korea University.
Mike Phillips will still be bannering this green-and-white side, with transferees Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, Mason Amos, and Luis Pablo all poised to contribute for coach Topex Robinson.
Games begin on Saturday at Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium.
The Green Archers raise the curtains for their title retention bid at 10:10 a.m. (Manila time) against National Chengchi University of Chinese Taipei, while the Fighting Maroons take on Korea University at 4:10 p.m.
Other teams participating in the single-elimination, knockout, three-day tourney are the University of Hong Kong, Japan University Select Team, University of Sydney, and Nippon Sport Science University.
Winners of the quarterfinals will move on to the semifinals on Sunday, while the last two teams standing dispute the crown on Monday.
Philippine history in WUBS
Three UAAP teams have represented the Philippines in the Japan tourney, starting with Ateneo in 2022 by virtue of its UAAP Season 85 title. The Blue Eagles also claimed the inaugural WUBS championship before finishing fourth the following year.
Come 2024, La Salle was the Filipinos' bet after ruling UAAP Season 86 and went on to reclaim the WUBS crown.
Fast forward to today and UAAP Season 87 champion UP is looking to keep the international trophy in the Philippines, even as the Green Archers look to do the same.
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