UAAP Season 88 Kicks Off: Beyond Basketball, a Season for All Sports

Universities are getting ready to show school spirit as the UAAP season comes closer

The universities and students are getting their teams hyped up with pep rallies and festivities for the upcoming sporting season. UAAP Season 88 opens on September 19, 2025, with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) serving as host. Carrying the theme “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action,” the season highlights both resilience and progress, values that align with UST’s role in leading the festivities. The opening ceremony will take place at the UST Grandstand and Open Field.

Season 88 comes with notable adjustments to the calendar and competitions. The UAAP is reintroducing boys’ baseball, last played in Season 82, and adding a new boys’ tennis tournament to expand opportunities in the juniors’ division. Some sports, including judo and taekwondo, have been moved to the second semester to avoid scheduling conflicts with the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.

In addition, the start of the season overlaps with major international volleyball events such as the FIVB Championship, leaving some usual venues unavailable and requiring alternate arrangements for early games.

The opening weekend of basketball will feature several key matchups, starting on September 20 with the DLSU Green Archers facing the Adamson Falcons. On September 21, the defending champions UP Fighting Maroons will go up against the host school, the UST Growling Tigers, while UE meets NU and FEU takes on Ateneo.

But the season’s larger narrative extends beyond basketball. The return of boys’ baseball opens opportunities for schools with strong diamond programs, while the launch of boys’ tennis expands the league’s reach into racquet sports. These competitions could foster new rivalries and attract different segments of fans, strengthening the UAAP’s role as a multi-sport league.

This season reflects the UAAP’s ongoing transformation from a basketball-centered league into a system that nurtures athletes across disciplines. Stars like EJ Obiena and the young footballers in the U-23 squad show how UAAP programs prepare athletes for the world stage. By reinvesting in junior divisions and adjusting calendars, the league underscores its role as a training ground for national teams, not just a home for collegiate rivalries.

As UAAP Season 88 opens in UST, the spotlight is no longer fixed only on the basketball court. With baseball, tennis, judo, and taekwondo gaining stronger footing in the schedule, the season reflects a broader commitment to athletic development. For student-athletes and fans alike, this year offers a chance to celebrate not just the league’s most popular competitions, but its growing diversity of sports.