Football coaches from UAAP member schools are eagerly anticipating the participation of Claret School of Quezon City and PAREF Southridge School in the upcoming UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament, set to kick off on January 18 next year.
The inclusion of Claret and Southridge expands the tournament to a six-team field, paving the way for more matches and the adoption of a Final Four format.
The guest schools will compete against 12-time defending champions Far Eastern University-Diliman, Season 86 finalists University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle Zobel for the prestigious crown.
The announcement, made during a ceremonial signing on November 28 at the NCPAG Building in UP Diliman, quickly went viral on social media. Alumni from both schools and local football fans enthusiastically celebrated the news, recognizing its significance for the sport.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I think it’s great that they joined,” said Albert Besa, longtime deputy coach of FEU. “The more teams, the better. It will raise the level of football in the long run.”
Besa also highlighted the developmental benefits of expanding the tournament.
“The UAAP is one of the most organized tournaments, so it’ll be a good experience for the guest teams. This will improve their programs as well. The final goal is to raise the standards nationwide anyway. The kids really need more games across the board.”
De La Salle University mentor Alvin Ocampo, a three-time UAAP champion as a Green Booter in the late 90s and a former national team player, echoed these sentiments.
He sees this development as a way to showcase the talent pipeline in the National Capital Region (NCR) and encourage more schools to join the UAAP, even temporarily.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“It will open doors for other schools to join,” said Ocampo. “It will also help in the development of football in Metro Manila. Look at the statistics of UAAP football players – how many Metro Manila-based players are in the collegiate division? Less than 20?”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
For veteran UST coach Marjo Allado, the inclusion of Claret and Southridge enriches the high school division for players and coaches alike.
The 46-year-old coach, who has previously led Global Cebu in the Asian Football Confederation, believes the expansion ensures more opportunities for young athletes to grow through increased match exposure.
“All teams will play more games, and this is beneficial for player development,” said Allado. “The UAAP is once a year lang kaya deserve ng players to compete with more games. For coaches, it’s also a chance to give more opportunities to substitute players to gain experience in UAAP matches.”
Allado added that Claret and Southridge’s participation aligns with the league’s developmental goals.
“Both teams are feeder schools for the UAAP, kaya maganda din na at the early stage they already have experience playing in UAAP.”
With the stage set for more competitive matches and broader participation, UAAP Season 87 promises to elevate high school football and provide a stepping stone for future collegiate and national team players.
