Coquia, Mayuga expected to join DLSU in Araw ng Loreto tourney

Two Fil-Canadian guards are set to enter the Philippine basketball scene this week, with sources indicating that Irish Coquia and Marco Mayuga are expected to suit up for the DLSU Green Archers in the upcoming Araw ng Loreto and Umajam Festival basketball tournament from March 28 to 31.

The four-day event will feature La Salle alongside UAAP counterparts UP, UST, and Adamson, as well as guest team Dave Construction, all competing for a grand prize of 800,000 pesos.

According to a source familiar with the situation, Coquia is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on Wednesday, just days before the tournament begins. Mayuga, meanwhile, has already been in the country for several weeks and has been training with the Green Archers in preparation for the competition.

Coquia, a 20-year-old guard who recently played NCAA Division I basketball for the University of New Orleans, brings experience from the U.S. college ranks. He stands at around 6-foot-2 and plays primarily as a backcourt guard.

Prior to his move to Division I, Coquia was a standout at Simon Fraser University, where he averaged double figures in scoring and emerged as a primary playmaker. Since transferring to New Orleans, he has taken on a rotation role, adjusting to the speed and physicality of Division I competition while contributing as a secondary ball handler and perimeter shooter.

Mayuga, 19, is a Vancouver College product who developed within one of British Columbia’s more competitive high school programs. A 6-foot guard, he began at the Junior Varsity level before progressing to the Varsity Fighting Irish lineup, competing in the province’s top-tier Quad-A division. He was produced by Drive Basketball Club in Vancouver B.C and played at EYBL Canada.

Both players share Filipino roots but hold Canadian citizenship. Coquia has held Filipino citizenship since birth, while Mayuga secured his prior to turning 18, making both eligible for local collegiate play under current regulations.

Their participation in the Araw ng Loreto tournament is viewed by some within the program as an early integration step, as DLSU continues to evaluate talent with potential long-term impact.

If Coquia elects to commit to La Salle, he would be required to complete a one-year residency period under UAAP rules. He would then have two years of eligibility beginning Season 90 in 2027. Mayuga, as a recent Grade 12 graduate, would be eligible immediately and could have up to five playing years.

The Green Archers have remained active in identifying Filipino talent, and the possible addition of Coquia and Mayuga, signals continued interest in strengthening their backcourt pipeline.

With both players expected to be available for the March 28 opener, their performances in this tournament could offer an early glimpse into how they might fit within the La Salle system moving forward.