Photo via Kyla Apostol
CEBU CITY, November 11, 2026 — Young football players from the Visayas will now have a path to the UAAP without having to leave home for Manila. The University of the Philippines Cebu (UP Cebu) is set to field the UP High School Cebu (UPHS Cebu) Juniors Football Team as a guest team in the High School Division of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89, marking UP Cebu’s entry into the league’s juniors football competition.
UPHS Cebu’s participation was made possible by the UAAP’s decision to admit the team as a guest in its High School Division in March 2026. The move opens one of the country’s premier student-athlete leagues to schools outside Metro Manila, giving high school players from Cebu and nearby provinces a chance to compete at the national level while continuing their studies at home.
At a press conference today, university officials, the coaching staff, and team representatives presented the team’s preparations for its first UAAP season, including its training program, competition requirements, and arrangements for balancing academics and athletics.
UP Cebu Chancellor Atty. Leo B. Malagar said the team’s participation reflects the university’s commitment to providing student-athletes with opportunities to develop their athletic abilities while pursuing their education.
“[…] the UAAP has been a Manila stage. Its member schools are in Metro Manila. Its games are played there. So for a young athlete from the provinces, reaching that stage usually meant moving to Manila for good […] Many gifted young players never made that move. Not because they lacked ability, but because the distance was too great and the cost too high. Karon, makadula na sila isip mga Sugbuanon,” the Chancellor said.
(Now, they can play as Cebuanos.)
The team will be led by Ricor Marfil, founder and head coach of SportsGen International Football Academy, alongside Phoebe Ann Hao. Together, they will oversee the players’ training and preparations for their first UAAP season.
As a guest team in the High School Division, UPHS Cebu will represent the UP Fighting Maroons in the juniors football competition. Its participation expands UP’s presence in UAAP football.
The team’s UAAP Season 89 campaign will begin on January 13, 2027, when it faces the UST Tiger Cubs at 4:00 PM at the UP Diliman Football Field in Quezon City. The team is scheduled to travel to Manila on January 4, 2027, ahead of its opening match.
UP Cebu is also opening sponsorship and partnership opportunities for businesses, organizations, alumni, and other supporters interested in supporting the team’s UAAP campaign. Contributions will help address the team’s training, preparation, and competition requirements. Interested partners may also explore opportunities for brand visibility through relevant team and university activities. For sponsorship inquiries, contact High School Principal Asst. Prof. Kim Bondoc at [email protected].
The team’s participation is expected to contribute to the development of football among young athletes in Cebu and neighboring provinces by providing a local pathway to competitive football. UP Cebu hopes the team will inspire more young players in the region to pursue the sport competitively.
This UAAP campaign also coincides with UP Cebu’s 10th year as a constituent university of the UP System. Celebrating the milestone under the theme Paglig-on: Creating Futures, Transforming Worlds, the university continues to pursue opportunities that strengthen its academic programs, develop talent, and expand its engagement with the community.
Through its participation in UAAP Season 89, UP High School Cebu will bring its student-athletes into competition with teams from other UAAP member schools while representing UP and Cebu on the national stage. ###