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| National University completes a historic UAAP eSports title sweep after conquering the first-ever eFIBA x UAAP eGilas Talent Discovery Tournament. (Image Source: ABS-CBN.com/UAAP Media) |
The UAAP eSports season culminated in the league’s first-ever eFIBA x UAAP eGilas Talent Discovery Tournament presented by SBP which was held last October 19-20, 2026 at the MVP Studios in Mandaluyong City, adding a new dimension to this year’s collegiate eSports calendar. Aside from serving as the season’s console sports simulation tournament, the competition will served as a talent identification platform for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) as it seeks to build its pool of players for eGilas.
“We’re glad that the UAAP continues to help us build our national teams, even in the eSports realm. We know that player turnover in eSports can be very high with players constantly evolving and new talents emerging. Having a pool of talented student-athletes competing at a high level in the UAAP gives us a valuable foundation to identify players who can represent the country in future eFIBA tournaments. More than just finding the best players, this is also about creating a sustainable pathway for student-athletes who want to take their skills to the international stage. We’re excited to see how these student-athletes perform and we hope this initiative will strengthen our talent identification program and help ensure that eGilas remains competitive on the world stage,” said SBP executive director Erika Dy. Unlike previous NBA 2K tournaments where student-athletes selected their favorite NBA teams and competed in one-on-one matchups, this year’s competition featured the 5v5 Pro-Am game mode using NBA 2K27. For eGilas program director Ryan Gregorio, the format aligns with international eFIBA standards and provides an opportunity to develop players who can represent the country on the global stage, especially with the Philippines entering the competition as the defending world champion after winning the eFIBA Season 4 World Finals last July. “We have to build a healthy eSports community, including in NBA 2K, and the UAAP provides us with an excellent platform to do that. Our model for youth 3×3 basketball is to identify elite student-athletes through tournaments like UAAP 3×3, bring them together for the FIBA 3×3 Nations League, and develop them into national team players. That approach has already produced two teams that competed in the FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup. We’re hoping to replicate that success in eFIBA,” said Gregorio who is also the federation’s 3×3 program director. After winning the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournament last August and the VALORANT competition last September, National University (NU) completed a historic UAAP eSports title sweep after completing the treble in the final discipline of the event, sweeping the University of Santo Tomas, 56-51 and 74-56, to capture its first championship in the basketball eSports tournament.
John Emmanuel Reyes was named Finals MVP after recording 19 points and 14 assists in Game 1, followed by a 26-point, 18-assist performance in the title-clinching match. “I am still in disbelief na nakuha po namin ‘yung gold. Siyempre po nag-double gold na po ang VALORANT and Mobile Legends before us, so na-inspire po kami with hunger to win it all ‘yung tournament sa UAAP,” said Reyes. The breakthrough also marked the first time a team other than Ateneo de Manila University had won the championship since the basketball eSports tournament was introduced in 2024. The Blue Eagles captured the first two titles under the old one-on-one format but fell short this year, managing just one win under the new five-on-five system. In the opening game of the finals, the Bulldogs kept the Teletigers at bay with Dunn Visitacion knocking down two timely triples to give NU a nine-point cushion entering the final period, 45-36. UST mounted a late rally with Damiel Argame drilling a corner triple to cap a 10-3 run and cut the deficit to two with three minutes remaining, 48-46. However, that was as close as the Teletigers could get. NU responded with a 6-0 run, punctuated by Reyes’ pull-up jumper, to extend its lead to 54-46 and draw first blood in the series. In the title-clinching game, the Bulldogs caught fire from beyond the arc in the final period with Reyes and Visitacion combining for three consecutive triples to stretch their lead to 24 points with just over three minutes remaining and put the finishing touches on their first basketball eSports championship. “It’s very monumental for the team and the organization as well kasi we started this year with a lot more resources than before, so the eyes were set to win everything talaga. From the day I scouted players, the goal in mind was to win. In any event that we play, everyone is capable of doing their job, and I believe that’s what makes championship teams as well, so foundation talaga namin is the roster itself and structure,” said NU coach Dhap Palacio of completing the triple crown sweep. In the semifinals, the Bulldogs survived a tough challenge from Adamson University, winning the series in three games. UST also needed three games to eliminate La Salle in the semifinals, rallying in the second half to win the deciding match, 65-64, and secure its second consecutive finals appearance.
UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag sees the tournament as a reflection of how basketball continues to evolve beyond the traditional court, stating, “Sports continue to evolve, and basketball is no exception. With the growth of eSports, we are seeing new ways for people to engage with the game and for our student-athletes to showcase their skills. We have to embrace these changes and recognize the opportunities they bring, especially in creating new pathways for our young athletes to represent the country on the international stage.”
Catch the eFIBA x UAAP eGilas Talent Discovery Tournament on-demand exclusively on Cignal Play and the One Sports YouTube channel.
