While rivals De La Salle University and University of the Philippines are competing in Tokyo for the 2025 World University Basketball Series, Ateneo de Manila University has also arrived in Osaka to take part in another tournament.
The Blue Eagles are competing in the two-day University Top League, held on Monday and Tuesday at the Moriguchi City Gymnasium.
Ateneo will play four games over the two days, facing some of Japan’s top universities.
On Tuesday, the Blue Eagles face Kobe University at 2:00 PM, followed by Kyoto Sangyo University at 4:30 PM.
On Wednesday, they will take on Nagoya Gakuin University at 9:00 AM, then Japan University of Economics three hours later.
The team with the best record in the single round-robin tournament will be declared the champion.
This tournament is one of the few Ateneo has joined during the off-season.
Earlier this year, the Blue Eagles reached the Asiabasket final but opted to skip the Filoil Preseason Cup.
Last June, Ateneo also held a training camp in Spain.
For UAAP Season 88, Ateneo will feature three one-and-done players: Kymani Ladi, Dominic Escobar, and Jaden Lazo.
