UP Fighting Maroons Set For Canada Preseason Tour

The UP Fighting Maroons are taking their UAAP Season 89 preparation to Canada, adding another overseas leg to a preseason program that has become a regular part of the team’s preparation cycle.

UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol confirmed that the Fighting Maroons will travel from June 3 to 16 for a Canada preseason trip that will include stops in Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. The trip will feature tune-up games and practices, with the entire pool of players expected to join. Perasol said Canada is being added to UP’s recent list of offseason destinations, which has included Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Serbia in past years.

The Canada swing will open a busy international stretch for the Fighting Maroons, who are also set to represent the Philippines in the 2026 Asian University Basketball League from August 2 to 9 in Hangzhou, China. UP will make its debut in the regional tournament after another strong finish in UAAP Season 88.

The first publicized game from the Canada tour is scheduled for June 6 at Calgary WinSport Center, where UP will face Edge National Prep at 6:30 p.m. The event, organized by Emerge Sportswear in association with Calgary Surge, Edge School, and YYC Athletes, will also include a U16 showcase from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and a 4:30 p.m. matchup between the Medelyn Perez All Stars and YQR Sports Select. Ticket information on the event poster lists lower bowl admission starting at $30, with courtside seats starting at $65.

UP will then head to the Vancouver area for a June 13 game against the Drive Basketball All Stars at SFU West Gym. The main game is listed for 1 p.m., following showcase matches at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The event poster lists lower bowl admission starting at $25 and courtside admission starting at $50.

The Maroons are also scheduled for a June 14 stop at Edmonton Expo Center, where they will take on Legacy All Stars at 6:30 p.m. The Edmonton event will feature a full day of basketball, including 15U boys playoffs, the CABL championship, a 15U girls showcase, a 15U boys championship game, Changes for Hope against Hanjan, and an 18U boys showcase. Ticket prices listed on the poster include upper bowl admission at $25, lower bowl seats at $35 and $45, and courtside tickets at $85 with a UP Maroons jersey included.

The trip comes at an important point for UP, which is entering a transition year after the close of the “Maroon 5” era. Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Reyland Torres, and Janjan Felicilda ended their collegiate careers after Season 88. The group reached the UAAP men’s basketball finals in all their playing years with UP and won championships in Seasons 84 and 87 before falling to La Salle in their final season.

The Canada trip gives head coach Goldwin Monteverde and his staff a chance to build chemistry with a retooled lineup in a setting that combines live competition, travel, and extended team time. UP has already been active in preseason play, including the NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour, where a new-look squad has featured players such as Gani Stevens, Rey Remogat, Jacob Bayla, Sean Alter, Dioente Miles, and James Payosing.

UP has also continued to strengthen its roster pipeline. Sean Franco, the NCAA Season 101 juniors MVP from Arellano, has committed to UP and will be eligible starting UAAP Season 89 with five full years of eligibility. Franco gives the Maroons another young piece as they reshape the team following the departure of several veterans.

The Maroons have also secured Fil-Canadian guard Elliot Dimaculangan, a former NCAA Division II player at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. Dimaculangan averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across three seasons at SFU, giving UP another long wing option as it rebuilds its perimeter rotation.

For the longer term, UP has also added Fil-Am guard Joaquin Tovera, who is expected to redshirt Season 89 and debut in Season 90. Tovera was one of the standout scorers in the 2026 SMART-NBTC National Finals, adding another name to watch in UP’s future backcourt plans.

The Canada tour also carries a community angle. The scheduled stops in Calgary, Vancouver, and Edmonton put the Fighting Maroons in front of large Filipino and basketball communities, while matching them against local all-star and prep-level competition. For UP, it is a chance to sharpen the team. For fans abroad, it is a rare chance to see one of the Philippines’ most followed collegiate programs up close.

The overseas schedule reflects how far the program has come since its 36-year UAAP title drought ended in Season 84. UP won that championship against Ateneo in 2022, then reclaimed the crown in Season 87 with a 66-62 Game 3 win over La Salle for its fourth men’s basketball title.

Now, the Maroons are using another international preseason to prepare for the next stage. Canada comes first in June, then the AUBL follows in August. By the time UAAP Season 89 arrives, UP hopes the miles, practices, and tune-up games will have given its new group the same edge that helped turn Diliman into one of the league’s most consistent title contenders.