The University of Santo Tomas and San Beda University will spearhead the Philippines’ bid when the country’s top collegiate basketball programs test themselves against international competition in the inaugural NSAC World Invitational next month.
UST, fresh off capturing the 2026 NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour championship, enters the tournament with momentum as the defending NSAC titlist, while San Beda joins the Growling Tigers in leading a strong local contingent that also includes Jose Rizal University and Far Eastern University.
Organized by Asiabasket in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the eight-team tournament will run from August 14 to 16, 2026, giving Filipino student-athletes a rare opportunity to measure themselves against quality programs from across the Asia-Pacific.
Representing the visiting teams are Japan’s Fighting Eagles Nagoya and Tenri University, Australia’s Elite Stacks, and Taiwan’s National Formosa University.
Rather than serving as just another preseason event, the tournament aims to expose Philippine collegiate teams to different styles of play while strengthening international basketball ties.
Asiabasket founder and chief executive officer Jai Reyes believes the competition represents a major step in expanding the reach of local college basketball.
“The NSAC World Invitational is a reflection of our vision to elevate Philippine collegiate basketball beyond our borders,” said the concurrent UAAP basketball commissioner.
“We want to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to compete against quality international programs while showcasing the talent, passion, and competitiveness of Philippine basketball on a larger stage.”
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UST, FEU, San Beda, and JRU take on youth teams from Japan, Australia, and Taiwan in the inaugural #Asiabasket NSAC World Invitational this August
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Reyes also acknowledged the support of the PSC and SBP in making the event possible.
“We are truly grateful to the PSC and SBP for believing in this vision and partnering with us for the NSAC World Invitational,” added the former Ateneo standout.
“Together, we’re creating more opportunities for Filipino student-athletes to compete internationally while continuing to raise the standard of collegiate basketball in the Philippines.”
The tournament will feature a knockout format with classification games, ensuring each team plays three games regardless of results. Quarterfinal matches are scheduled on August 14, followed by the semifinals and classification contests on August 15, before the championship and placement games conclude the event on August 16.
Beyond determining the inaugural champion, the NSAC World Invitational hopes to strengthen basketball relationships across the Asia-Pacific while giving Philippine fans a chance to watch international collegiate teams compete on local soil.
For UST, the event also presents another opportunity to build on the confidence gained from its 2026 NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour title, while San Beda and the rest of the Philippine representatives look to prove that the country’s collegiate programs can hold their own against respected international opposition.
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