The University of the Philippines remains focused on reclaiming the UAAP men’s basketball crown in Season 89 as the Fighting Maroons are making sure their future is in good hands.
UP has secured the commitment of Fil-Canadian guard Irish Coquia, a move that strengthens the program’s long-term plans as it prepares for life beyond veteran backcourt leaders Rey Remogat and Rain Maga.
The 6-foot-1 playmaker will serve the mandatory one-year residency requirement before becoming eligible for two seasons beginning in Season 90, giving the Fighting Maroons time to develop one of their newest recruits within Goldwin Monteverde’s system.
“I chose UP because I believe this program can bring out the best in me. UP gave me a vision for my future that felt right not just in basketball, but in who I can become. I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent UP, grow under this program, and keep working towards my goals,” Coquia said.
Coquia arrives in Diliman with experience at both levels of U.S. collegiate basketball. He most recently played for the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I after first making his mark at NCAA Division II program Simon Fraser University.
Long before his college career in the United States, Coquia established himself as one of British Columbia’s premier high school talents. He averaged 35 points per game while leading his team to a provincial championship, earning Most Valuable Player honors in the process.
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The Fil-Canadian guard, who turns 21 in September, is expected to become a key figure in UP’s next-generation backcourt.
By the time he becomes eligible in Season 90, both Remogat and Maga will have exhausted their playing eligibility, opening the door for Coquia to team up with fellow Fil-Am recruit Joaquin Tovera.
For Monteverde, the addition is part of ensuring continuity within one of the UAAP’s most successful programs in recent years.
“Together with our other recruits, makakatulong si Irish sa atin, especially to ensure na tuloy-tuloy lang tayo pagkatapos ng playing years nina Rey at Rain,” said Monteverde.
The commitment also carries personal significance for Coquia, whose family roots trace back to Dagupan City, Pangasinan. His uncle, multidisciplinary communicator Rex Laguerta, studied at the UP Open University from 2019 to 2024, making the newest Fighting Maroon’s arrival a homecoming of sorts.
UP continues to build from a position of sustained success. The Fighting Maroons are coming off their fifth consecutive UAAP Finals appearance, a stretch highlighted by championships in Seasons 84 and 87.
As the Maroons chase redemption in Season 89 after falling to the DLSU Green Archers in last season’s best-of-three championship series, the commitment of Coquia signals that the program is looking beyond its immediate title aspirations—investing in a future it hopes will keep UP among the league’s perennial contenders for years to come.
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