The National Academy of Sports is joining the University Athletic Association of the Philippines high school division as a guest school, fielding student-athletes in five sporting events beginning in Season 89.
NAS will make its UAAP debut in the high school table tennis tournament, which opens on Sunday at Gameville Central Park.
The participation marks a significant milestone for the institution, which aims to provide its student-athletes with greater opportunities to compete against some of the country’s best young talents.
“This is very much aligned with what we want to achieve at the National Academy of Sports. Our program is not just about providing our student-athletes with quality education and training, but also giving them opportunities to compete and test themselves against the best,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio, who also serves as vice chairman of NAS’ board of trustees.
“Through the UAAP, they will gain more exposure to high-level competition, which is essential in their development and preparation for future international competitions.”
NAS becomes the third guest school to participate in the UAAP, joining PAREF Southridge School and Claret School of Quezon City.
UAAP executive director Atty. Rene Saguisag Jr. welcomed NAS’ entry, emphasizing how the academy’s participation aligns with the league’s longstanding commitment to developing student-athletes who can eventually contribute to nation-building through sports.
“The NAS system is designed to identify and develop highly talented and exceptionally gifted students at an early age, particularly those who show great potential to excel in sports,” Saguisag said.
“We at the UAAP believe this is a win-win situation for everyone involved. As the saying goes, iron sharpens iron. By competing against one another, both the UAAP and NAS student-athletes stand to benefit, and ultimately, this partnership will contribute to the continued development of Philippine sports.”
NAS’ entry was made possible through the efforts of Executive Director Francis “Kiko” Diaz, the former representative of the University of the Philippines to the UAAP Board of Managing Directors.
Diaz expressed his gratitude to the UAAP for welcoming the academy, describing the partnership as a mutually beneficial opportunity that will further strengthen NAS’ athlete development program and the country’s national team pipeline.
“We are definitely very happy with this development and grateful that the UAAP has approved NAS’ participation. It’s a win-win situation for both parties. The UAAP provides our academy with a platform to showcase our athletes and measure them against some of the best student-athletes in the country,” Diaz said.
“We are also thankful because this opportunity directly contributes to the development of our academy and strengthens the pathway toward the national team for our athletes. It presents a new set of challenges for our student-athletes and will help improve their competencies.”
While NAS regularly competes in the Palarong Pambansa, NSA-sanctioned tournaments, and international competitions, Diaz believes joining the UAAP offers a different level of experience for the academy’s athletes.
Diaz, however, is keeping expectations measured as NAS prepares for its maiden UAAP campaign, stressing that the priority is to evaluate the athletes’ development rather than immediately chase championships.
“I would just love to see all our teams compete and be fit to play in the UAAP. I’m not projecting any championships since this is our initial campaign. It would really give us a good evaluation of where we stand in secondary school competitions,” Diaz said.
“If some of our student-athletes deliver positive results, that would be very encouraging. We are doing something positive for the academy, and there is no pressure to win. We just want them to enjoy the experience, build friendships within the UAAP community, learn from the competition, and showcase what they have learned.”
Diaz also extended his appreciation to UAAP president Mark Molina and the rest of the league’s board members for giving NAS the opportunity to compete in the prestigious collegiate athletic association.
“We would also like to thank UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag Jr. for welcoming the idea and engaging in discussions about NAS’ entry into the UAAP early on, as well as President Mark Molina and the rest of the board for making this opportunity possible for the academy,” Diaz said.
Aside from table tennis, NAS will also field student-athletes in athletics, swimming, judo, and taekwondo.
NAS deputy chief and Sports Development Officer for Sports Science, Training, and Athletes Services Kris Junasa said the five sports align with the academy’s priority disciplines, making the UAAP an ideal competitive platform for its student-athletes.
“Actually, we have focus sports and, with that, nagtugma sa ino-offer ng UAAP. So we were able to capitalize on that. These focus sports are also participants in both national and international competitions. It is a perfect opportunity for us,” Junasa said.
“Yun ang magandang parte rito sa UAAP is that we get to match with age brackets, and particularly NAS is a secondary school, magandang opportunity ito para sa program namin. We are pretty much excited because this adds more opportunities for growth and development and more competition for NAS. It’s a way to prepare our student-athletes that we have and sharpen their skills with regards to additional competition.”
