UAAP Season 89 now running

University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP)

The UAAP was formalized on September 27, 1938 with Far Eastern University, National University, University of Santo Tomas, and University of the Philippines as founding members. Today 8 Metro Manila universities compete across collegiate, womens, and high school divisions under the core principles of camaraderie, sportsmanship, and amateurism.

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History

From the Big Three League to the national collegiate stage

The roots go back further than 1938. In 1924 Dr. Regino Ylanan of UP gathered school athletic directors to organize collegiate sport. That effort fed the early NCAA, then the 1932 split when NU, UP, and UST formed the Big Three League for fairer university level play. FEU stood in for UP in 1935, and in 1938 the four schools accepted the UP Alumni Association and PAAF invitation to form a permanent body, the UAAP.

  1. 1924: Ylanan convenes Ateneo, De La Salle, San Beda, NU, University of Manila, UST, and Institute of Accounts to set collegiate athletic policy.
  2. 1932: NU, UP, and UST secede and inaugurate the Big Three League, starting with basketball.
  3. 1938: UAAP founded on September 27 with FEU, NU, UST, and UP. First events include basketball, baseball, football, womens volleyball, swimming, athletics, and track and field.
  4. 1942 to 1946: Competition suspended during the occupation. Play resumes in 1947.
  5. 1952 to 1954: UE, Adamson, Manila Central University, and University of Manila admitted on probation. UE earns permanent status in 1954. MCU stays until 1962.
  6. 1970 to 1974: Adamson returns on probation, hosts the 1974 to 1975 season, earns permanent membership.
  7. 1978 and 1986: Ateneo joins in 1978. La Salle joins in 1986. The modern 8 is complete.
  8. 2020 to 2022: Season 82 ends early in April 2020. Season 83 is cancelled. The league resumes with Season 84 in March 2022.
  9. 2021: UAAP unveils the sipa inspired logo, replacing the 1986 circular seal of 8 school colors.
  10. 2027 plan: The Home of the UAAP arena in Pasig is scheduled to open for the 90th season with seating above 8,000. Groundbreaking started October 24, 2025 with Akari as partner.

Members

The 8 member schools

Four schools have been here since 1938. Four joined later. All are based in Metro Manila. Junior teams play through partner high schools noted below.

Adamson University

Soaring Falcons

Manila. Joined 1952, readmitted 1970, permanent from 1974. Private Vincentian school founded 1932.

Ateneo de Manila University

Blue Eagles

Quezon City. Joined 1978. Private Jesuit school founded 1859.

De La Salle University

Green Archers and Lady Archers

Manila. Joined 1986. Private Lasallian school founded 1911. Juniors through DLS Santiago Zobel in Muntinlupa.

Far Eastern University

Tamaraws and Lady Tamaraws

Manila flagship. Founder member from 1938. Private school founded 1928. Juniors as FEU Diliman Baby Tamaraws.

National University

Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs

Manila flagship. Founder member from 1938. Private school founded 1900. Juniors through NU Nazareth School.

University of the East

Red Warriors and Lady Warriors

Manila and Caloocan. Joined 1952, permanent from 1954. Private school founded 1946. Fields Junior Warriors teams.

University of the Philippines Diliman

Fighting Maroons

Quezon City. Founder member from 1938. Public university founded 1908. Juniors through UP Integrated School.

University of Santo Tomas

Growling Tigers and Tigresses

Manila. Founder member from 1938. Private Dominican school founded 1611. Holds 49 collegiate overall titles plus 25 high school titles.

Guest teams since Season 87: PAREF Southridge Admirals in boys swimming, baseball, football, tennis, and fencing, plus Claret School Red Roosters in boys football. Former full members: Manila Central University from 1952 to 1962, University of Manila from 1952 to 1954.

Sports program

What the schools contest

Schools chase the overall championship across the scoring sports. Basketball draws the biggest crowds, with volleyball and cheerdance close behind as marquee events. Newer additions include esports from Season 87 and golf as a demonstration sport from Season 88.

Overall championship sports

  • 3x3 basketball, 5 on 5 basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball
  • Football, baseball with boys high school division, softball for women
  • Athletics, swimming, fencing, judo, taekwondo kyorugi and poomsae
  • Badminton, tennis, table tennis, standard chess plus blitz chess

Showcase and demo events

  • Cheerdance in December at SM Mall of Asia Arena
  • Streetdance in May, esports in August at MVP Studios
  • Golf demonstration from Season 88 at Tagaytay Midlands
  • Girls basketball juniors growing from demo status since Season 82
Division notes: baseball is men only, softball is women only. Volleyball, chess, swimming, fencing, athletics, and table tennis run boys and girls high school divisions. Football and baseball run boys divisions.

Season calendar

When and where each sport plays

Since Season 78 the calendar starts in September to match new academic terms. From Season 87 the opening shifted into August with esports. Expect collegiate basketball and football in the first semester and collegiate volleyball plus baseball and softball in the second.

First semester, September to December

  • Basketball collegiate and 16U in September at MOA Arena, Araneta, UST Pavilion, Blue Eagle Gym
  • Collegiate football in September at UP Diliman Stadium, Rizal Memorial, Vermosa Hub
  • High school volleyball in September at Blue Eagle Gym, Adamson Gym, Paco Arena, FEU Diliman Gym
  • Standard chess in September at Adamson University Gym
  • Badminton collegiate in October at Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall
  • Athletics in November at New Clark City Stadium, swimming at New Clark City Aquatic Center
  • Table tennis in November at Amoranto Sports Complex, beach volleyball at Sands SM by the Bay
  • Cheerdance in December at SM Mall of Asia Arena

Second semester, January to August

  • High school baseball and football in January at Rizal Memorial and UP Diliman
  • Collegiate volleyball from February at MOA Arena, Araneta, UST Pavilion, Filoil Centre
  • Tennis, softball, and collegiate baseball from February at CSA Bulacan and Rizal Memorial
  • Fencing in March at Makati Coliseum, judo and taekwondo in April at Rizal Memorial Coliseum
  • Blitz chess in April at Adamson Gym, 3x3 in May at Ayala Malls Manila Bay
  • Streetdance in May at Blue Eagle Gym, golf in May at Tagaytay Midlands
  • Esports in August at MVP Studios

Rivalries and broadcast

Games that fill arenas

Ateneo against La Salle remains the signature rivalry. Ateneo against UP, La Salle against UST, UP against UST, FEU against UE, and La Salle against NU complete the fiercest dates on the calendar. On broadcast, the Cignal era from 2020 onward carries games on the Varsity Channel and Pilipinas Live, following the BBC and IBC years, the Silverstar years, and the ABS CBN years from 2000 to 2020.

League venues cluster in Metro Manila: Araneta, MOA Arena, Filoil Centre, Blue Eagle Gym, UST Pavilion, Rizal Memorial complex, with athletics and swimming at New Clark City. The planned Home of the UAAP in Pasig adds a permanent 8,000 plus seat stage from the 90th season.

Fan merch and team kits

Wear your school colors with licensed style printing

PHSHIRT prints UAAP fan merch and official style varsity kits for all 8 schools: oversized sweatshirts, Dri Fit activewear, replica basketball and volleyball jerseys, cheerdance uniforms, and arena scarves. Send your school, sizes, and target game date for a free quote.

Ordering: minimums start at small squad runs for fan groups, with full roster name and number sets for varsity teams. Sublimation, DTF, embroidery, and tackle twill available. Official BIR invoice on every order.

Contact

Talk to us on any channel

Share your school, quantity, and deadline. We reply with fabric, print method, price, and delivery date.

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FAQ

Common questions

What is the UAAP and who are the members?

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines is a collegiate league of 8 Metro Manila universities founded September 27, 1938. Members are Adamson, Ateneo, La Salle, FEU, NU, UE, UP Diliman, and UST. FEU, NU, UST, and UP are the four founders.

Which season is running now and where can fans watch?

UAAP Season 89 is the current edition. Games air in the Cignal era on the UAAP Varsity Channel and Pilipinas Live, with schedules, live stats, photo galleries, and video galleries on uaap.org.

Do cheerdance, esports, and streetdance count for the overall title?

No. Those are showcase events. The overall championship is decided across scoring sports led by basketball, volleyball, football, baseball and softball, athletics, swimming, fencing, judo, taekwondo, badminton, tennis, table tennis, chess, and 3x3.

Where can our group order UAAP fan merch or varsity kits?

PHSHIRT prints for all 8 schools: oversized sweatshirts, Dri Fit activewear, replica basketball and volleyball jerseys, cheerdance uniforms, and scarves. Message on Viber or WhatsApp with your school, sizes, and game date for a free quote with official BIR invoice.

What is the Home of the UAAP arena?

A planned Pasig venue with seating above 8,000 developed with Akari. Groundbreaking started October 24, 2025 with opening timed for the 90th season. It will also host other leagues including PBA, PVL, and NCAA games.