UPMBT Withdraws From PinoyLiga Cup, Cites Scheduling, Health

The UP Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) has officially withdrawn both of its squads — UP1 and UP2 — from the ongoing playoff stage of the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup Season 4, citing scheduling conflicts, player conditioning, and upcoming international training commitments.

In a statement released Monday, the team said the decision came after “careful deliberation” by the coaching staff and management, who opted to pull out of the tournament due to overlaps with school activities, sponsor engagements, and preparation for their Serbia training camp scheduled from June 15 to July 3.

“As much as we want to finish the Pinoyliga Cup, we’ve decided to prioritize the players’ well-being and allow them time to recover ahead of our Serbia training camp next week,” said UPMBT head coach Goldwin Monteverde. He added that the team faced a potential stretch of four to five games in as many days, which posed a risk to player health and recovery.

“Player health, conditioning, and injury prevention remain our top priorities, especially with UAAP Season 88 just three months away,” Monteverde emphasized.

Despite the early exit, Monteverde thanked the Pinoyliga organizers for the opportunity to give playing time to both veterans and new additions to the team. “We thank Pinoyliga for giving our players — especially our new additions — an opportunity to gain valuable experience and build chemistry with their teammates.”

Tournament director Benny Benitez acknowledged UP’s withdrawal with understanding, emphasizing that the league respects both academic obligations and athlete well-being.

“While we are saddened that both UP1 and UP2 will no longer be participating… we are also particular with the physical well-being of athletes, thus we are accepting the formal withdrawal,” said Benitez. He added that the league would work with UPMBT to prevent similar situations in future seasons, recognizing UP as a “key stakeholder” of the tournament.

Tournament Shake-Up

UP’s exit has led to a reshuffling of the playoff structure:

• The winner of the Adamson vs. Mapua game on Tuesday will automatically advance to the championship game.
• JRU and UST will face off Tuesday for the last Final Four slot, with the winner taking on NU—who advanced by default after UP2’s forfeit—on Wednesday.
• The championship game is now slated for either Thursday this week or Tuesday next week.

While UP’s departure shortens the playoff picture, it highlights the growing balancing act collegiate teams face between domestic competition, international training opportunities, and long-term season planning. For UPMBT, the focus now shifts to Serbia—and ultimately, UAAP Season 88.