Philippine collegiate basketball will take on an international flavor next month as Asiabasket stages the inaugural NSAC World Invitational, bringing together four of the country’s top university teams and four foreign squads for a three-day tournament.
The competition — organized by Asiabasket in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas — is scheduled for August 14 to 16, 2026.
It is designed to provide Filipino student-athletes with international-level competition while strengthening ties between collegiate basketball programs across the Asia-Pacific region.
Representing the Philippines are University of Santo Tomas, San Beda University, Jose Rizal University, and Far Eastern University.
They will be challenged by Japan’s Fighting Eagles Nagoya and Tenri University, Australia’s Elite Stacks, and Taiwan’s National Formosa University.
Asiabasket founder and chief executive officer Jai Reyes said the tournament reflects the organization’s goal of helping elevate Philippine collegiate basketball on the regional stage.
(C) NSAC
“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.“
Reyes also thanked the PSC and SBP for supporting the project and helping bring the event to fruition.
“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 Blue Eagle.
“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 eight-team event will use a knockout format with classification games, guaranteeing every team three games during the tournament. Quarterfinals will be played on August 14, followed by the semifinals and classification contests on August 15 before the championship and final placement games conclude the event on August 16.
Beyond crowning a champion, the NSAC World Invitational seeks to foster stronger basketball relationships throughout the Asia-Pacific while giving local fans the chance to watch international collegiate teams compete in the Philippines.
The tournament also serves as an extension of Asiabasket’s National Student Athletes Championship, furthering the league’s efforts to create more competitive opportunities for student-athletes and expand the reach of Philippine collegiate basketball.
