Congratulations to the University of the UUֱ�� student-athletes, coaches and alumni who contributed to the Philippines’ impressive 277-medal haul in the recently concluded 33rd Southeast Asian Games!

The Games were held from December 9 to 20, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand.

UE’s winning Red Warrior athletes secured a total of 14 medals—one gold, three silvers and 10 bronze—across the judo, athletics, men’s volleyball and fencing events.

In judo, Judokas Joemari-Heart Rafael and Leah Jane Lopez were part of the team that clinched the gold medal in the Mixed Team event. Miss Rafael also won a silver medal in the 57 kg category, while sisters Leah Jane Lopez and Ma. Jeanalane Lopez earned a bronze medal in Ju-no-Kata.

In athletics, UE alumnus Richard Salaño captured a bronze medal in Men’s Marathon, while Mariel Abuan claimed silver in the Women’s High Jump.

In Men’s Volleyball, former UE Men’s Volleyball stalwart Lloyd Josafat, as part of Team Alas Pilipinas, captured the bronze medal.

UE fencers also made their mark at the Games. Queen Denise Dalmacio, Samantha Kyle Catantan, and Sophia Shekainah Catantan were part of the team that won silver in the Women’s Team Foil event. Queen Denise Dalmacio and Jylyn Nicanor helped secure a bronze medal in the Women’s Team Sabre.

In the men’s division, Nathaniel Perez, Sammuel Tranquilan, Louis Marti Shoemaker, and Shawn Nicollei Felipe won bronze in the Men’s Team Foil event. Meanwhile, Khiane Nash Felipe, Anthony Concepcion, and Christian Jester Concepcion earned bronze in the Men’s Team Sabre. Sammuel Tranquilan, together with fencing team playing coach Lee Eigran Ergina, was also part of the team that won a bronze medal in the Men’s Team Event.

In individual events, Warrior Olympian Samantha Kyle Catantan claimed a bronze medal in Women’s Foil, while Nathaniel Perez and CJ Concepcion likewise won bronze medals in Men’s Foil and Men’s Sabre, respectively.

The Philippine Fencing Team was led by champion Coach Rolando Canlas Jr., himself a UE graduate and a SEA Games 2005 gold medalist.

Kudos, Warrior Athletes! Thank you for bringing honor to Lualhati and making the country proud!

The UE Red Warriors Juniors Tennis Team have come out on top, winning the latest edition of the Philippine Columbian Association Open Tennis Championships!

Deemed as the Wimbledon of Philippine tennis, the PCA Open 2025 was held on August 30 and September 1, 6 and 7, with the final round unfolding this past Sunday, October 5, 2025, all at the PCA outdoor courts on Plaza Dilao in Paco, Manila.

Competing in the tournament’s inter-high school category, our Junior Tennis Warriors bested a total of eight teams.

In the preliminary rounds, the Red Warriors won against their counterparts from Xavier Nuvali, DLSU Zobel and Xavier San Juan Team A (all with an end score of 3-0), DLSU Lipa (2-1), La Salle Greenhills and Ateneo de Manila (both 3-0), then Mapua in the semi-finals (3-0) before lording over San Sebastian in the finals, 2-1.

Composed mostly of UE Grade 11/senior high school students with one Grade 10/junior high school student, all of the University’s Basic Education Department-Manila, the UE Red Warriors Junior Tennis Team is under the mentorship of Head Coach Roel Licayan and Assistant Coach Junel Canal.

In the run-up to the finals, Junior Tennis Warrior Aser Laurence Delos Santos attained a finalist/runner-up finish in the 16-under Boys’ category. Meanwhile, Jason Vincent Battad was a singles individual semi-finalist in the 18-under Boys’ category.

For their part, member of the UE Red Warriors Men’s Tennis Team also took part in the PCA Open, with JB Aguilar being a semi-finalist in the singles individual men’s open category and the team being a semi-finalist.

Coming off their landmark victory, the Junior Tennis Warriors will be competing in the upcoming Gentry Open that will be held at CSA Bulacan.

The photo here shows our winning Red Warriors Juniors Tennis players with a PCA Director (far left) and UE President-Chief Academic Officer Zosimo Battad (fourth from left): Al Tristan Licayan, Jason Vincent Battad, Kyle Andrei Saga, Aser Laurence Delos Santos, Karl Khian Nuñez and Andrei Kobi Luzon.

Congratulations and kudos, Junior Tennis Warriors! And cheers still, Senior Tennis Warriors!

Go fight, Red and White! GO FIGHT, RED AND WHITE!

This statement is being issued in response to recent reports regarding the alleged departure of several members from the University of the UUֱ�� (UE) Women’s Volleyball Team.

Unfortunately, much of the information being circulated is inaccurate. As such, in the interest of transparency and accountability, we find it necessary to clarify the matter and set the record straight.

One key point that requires clarification, is the change in sponsorship and its implication for the team’s composition and leadership. The former sponsor of the UE Women’s Volleyball Team, who supported the team during UAAP Season 87, chose not to renew its sponsorship for Season 88. As part of the conclusion of this sponsorship, the coaching staff who were under the sponsor’s support also ended their tenure with the team.

In response, to this development, the Physical Education (PE) Department promptly took steps to secure new leadership for the team. New coaches were appointed and approved by the President as consulted from UE sports committee to guide and develop the program for the upcoming season. In deference to the new coaching staff—so they could implement their vision, training philosophy, and strategic plans—the department organized an open try-out to evaluate all potential players.

A meeting was held by the PE Director for the old member players of the team, before the hour of the try-out, its reason of conduct of restructuring the team, reminded them to show their skills and dominance to be retained.

Furthermore, the University has long-standing policy of conducting a tryout at the end of every season in preparation for the next one.

In line with this policy, despite the team’s underperformance in previous seasons, all incumbent players were given the same opportunity and due process to participate in the try-out alongside new aspirants. Their previous membership in the team did not automatically guarantee automatic retention, nor did past performance result in automatic exclusion. Each participant was evaluated solely on their skills, potential, and compatibility with the system being implemented by the coaching staff and or new coaching staff.

As a result of this rigorous and merit-based selection process, several former players were not retained for Season 88. While this may be disappointing for those affected, it is a natural outcome of a competitive and transparent selection process under new leadership.

We would also like to emphasize that the athlete service grant is a privilege extended to student-athletes in recognition of their service and representation of the University in each playing year (two semesters) of satisfying performance. This grant is awarded to students with qualified academic status and regardless of year level whether they are graduating or not, as long as they are eligible in their UAAP playing years (5 playing years extended on following semester if student-athlete will graduate the following semester, provided he/she completed the 5 playing years.). It is not an entitlement tied to tenure or past participation, but rather to active involvement and contribution to the University’s academic and athletic community. However, we remain fully committed to supporting our student-athletes who are truly performing. The outcome of the try-out to those affected who lost their spot and lost their privileges will be granted to those who qualified because of limited athletic service grant slots specific for each team/event.

In this context, we take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to our former sponsor, Strong Group Athletics (SGA) for their generous support of the UE Women’s Volleyball Team during UAAP Season 86 and 87. We are likewise grateful to all the members of the team who represented UE with dedication and effort throughout those seasons.

Looking ahead, UE remains firmly committed to supporting its student-athletes and to building a competitive, values-driven sports program. Our ultimate goal is to empower our athletes to grow not only in their sport but also as student leaders, and to bring pride and honor to the University through excellence in the UAAP

The members of the UE Red Warriors Men’s, Women’s, Boys’ and Girls’ Fencing Teams are raring to defend their respective University Athletic Association of the Philippines crowns anew as the UAAP Fencing Competition Season 87 begins this Tuesday, April 22, and will go on up to 25, 2025, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium!

The UE Red Warriors Fencing Teams aim to continue their dominance in the premier student-athletes league and extend their UAAP championship streak.

Specifically, the Men’s Warrior Fencers are gunning for their eleventh consecutive UAAP title, while the Boys’ Team is aiming for a 13-peat. The Women’s Team, for its part, is aiming for a four-peat UAAP championship and its 16th overall title, while the Girls’ Team is aiming for a 12th consecutive UAAP championship.

The red-and-white fencing squad is set to compete in their respective UAAP 86 events on these dates:

April 22 (individual events):
9 a.m.: Boys’ Epee, Women’s Foil, Men’s Sabre
1 p.m.: Men’s Epee, Girls’ Foil, Boys’ Sabre

April 23 (individual events):
9 a.m.: Girls’ Sabre, Boys’ Foil, Women’s Epee
1 p.m.: Women’s Sabre, Men’s Foil, Girls’ Epee

April 24 (team events):
9 a.m.: Boys’ Epee, Women’s Foil, Men’s Sabre
1 p.m.: Men’s Epee, Girls’ Foil, Boys’ Sabre

April 25 (team events):
9 a.m.: Girls’ Sabre, Boys’ Foil, Women’s Epee
1 p.m.: Women’s Sabre, Men’s Foil, Girls’ Epee

The team photo here by Carl Edson Altamira of the UE Dawn shows the SY 2024-2025/UAAP 87 batch of UE Fencing Team athletes.

Comprising the UE Red Warriors Fencing Teams’ coaching staff are Head Coach Rolando Canlas Jr., and Coaches Rufelrino Endriano, Chester Uy, Lee Eigran Ergina and Christian Canlas.

Let’s behold and cheer for our Fencing teams, Warrior members of the UE community!

And good luck, UE Warriors Fencers! Here’s to your red-and-white victories by being Stronger, Better, Together in UAAP Season 87!
Go Fight, Red and White! GO FIGHT, RED AND WHITE!

Kudos to the UE Red Warriors Men’s Lawn Tennis Team for ranking as the solo third in the ongoing University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 Men’s Lawn Tennis Tournament!

Our Lawn Tennis Warriors began the second round of the UAAP 87 Men’s Lawn Tennis Tournament last March 15 against the AdU Falcons, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Malate, Manila. That match saw our Warriors win, 3-0.

The Warrior Tennis Players then suffered a setback in the hands of the NU Bulldogs, 5-0, last March 16, but bounced back with their next victory, against the AdMU Blue Eagles, 3-2, on March 22.

More recently, the Warrior Tennis Players defeated the DLSU Green Archers, 3-2, on March 23.

The UE Red Warriors Men’s Lawn Tennis Team, under Head Coach Roel O. Licayan, will next compete on the following dates:

* Mar. 29, Sat., 2 p.m., versus the UST Growling Tigers
* Mar. 30, Sun., 2 p.m., vs. the UP Fighting Maroons

All the remaining games will be played at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Malate, Manila.

The UE Red Warriors Men’s Lawn Tennis Team has had a storied history in the UAAP. The team emerged as back-to-back champions of the UAAP Lawn Tennis Tournaments of Seasons 79 and 80. On April 6, 2024, the team finished as 2nd Runner-up in the UE-hosted UAAP Season 86.

Good luck, UE Red Warriors Men’s Lawn Tennis Team! Here’s to your victories by being Stronger, Better, Together in UAAP Season 87!

Go fight, Red and White! GO FIGHT, RED AND WHITE!

The University of the UUֱ�� (UE) has signed former PBA coach Christian Gavina as the new head coach of its collegiate men’s basketball team, ushering in a new era for one of the most storied programs in the history of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Coach Gavina, a seasoned mentor with extensive experience in both local and international basketball, brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record in player development, tactical game planning and defensive mastery. His hiring signals UE’s commitment to reclaiming its place as a dominant force in the UAAP.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Chris Gavina to the Red Warriors family. His leadership, passion and experience in both local and international basketball will be instrumental in molding our new breed of champions,” UE President Zosimo Battad said at the signing held in UE Manila Thursday, Feb. 13.

Present also at the signing were UE officials led by Vice Chairman David Chua and Senior Vice President Florence Siy.

Coach Gavina led the Taiwan Mustangs in The Asian Tournament and played a pivotal role in guiding the Taichung Suns to the T1 League Final Four playoffs as the first Filipino-American head coach in Taiwan T1 League history.

His experience in elite-level basketball includes head coaching stints in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) with the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and Mahindra Enforcer, where he was instrumental in developing defensive systems that ranked among the best in the league.

Additionally, Gavina was named Best Coach of the 2024 U19 NBTC National Finals Division 1 Tournament, a testament to his ability to nurture young talent.

“I am honored to coach the UE Red Warriors, a program that has produced legends of Philippine basketball. For those who cherish basketball history, I am humbled to step into the role once held by the phenomenal Coach Baby Dalupan, who led this institution to its golden era,” Gavina said.

Coach Gavina has expressed his excitement about leading the Red Warriors, emphasizing culture-building, defensive discipline and player development as key pillars of his coaching philosophy.

“The UE Red Warriors have a rich tradition, and I am eager to instill a culture of hard work, resilience and accountability. My goal is to help these young men reach their fullest potential by fostering a relentless work ethic, which, when paired with that never-say-die spirit, will make us a force to reckon with,” Gavina said.

UE has produced some of the country’s most celebrated basketball players, including the legendary Robert Jaworski, Allan Caidic, Jerry Codiñera and James Yap. The Red Warriors hold the distinction of winning seven consecutive UAAP championships, a record that still stands today.

The Under-19 set of the UE Red Warriors Boys’ Basketball Team have begun seeing UAAP 87 action with the start of the first round of the UAAP Season 87 Under-19 Boys’ Basketball Tournament!

The Junior Warriors’ first game, against the ADMU Blue Eaglets, took place this Sunday, January 19, 2025, 12 noon onwards. The game ended with the Junior Warriors victorious, 88-80.

Mentored by Coaches Karl Santos and Andrew Estrella who steered the UE Red Warriors’ Under-16 Boys’ Basketball Team to clinch the championship in the UAAP Season 87 Under-16 Boys’ Basketball Tournament last December 20, 2024, our junior red-and-white squad will next be competing on the following dates:

Jan. 23, Thurs. 10 a.m., vs. AdU
Jan. 26, Sun., 8 a.m., vs. UPIS
Jan. 30, Thurs., 8 a.m., vs. UST
February 2, Sun., 12 noon, vs. FEU
Feb. 6, Thurs., 8 a.m., vs. NUNS
Feb. 9, Sun., 10 a.m., vs. DLSZ

All UAAP 87 first-round junior basketball games have the FilOil EcoOil Center as venue.

Let’s cheer for our team, Warrior members of the UE community!

And good luck, UE Junior Warriors! Here’s to more victories by being Stronger, Better, Together in UAAP Season 87!

Go Fight, Red and White! GO FIGHT, RED AND WHITE!
Photos by the UAAP Media Team

The University of the UUֱ�� (UE) lauded collegiate basketball head coach Gerardo “Jack” Santiago for steering the Red Warriors to a remarkable run in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Seasons 84 to 87.

Santiago’s “efforts, skills and smarts” led the men’s team to achieve wins that made it “the most breathtaking UE Red Warriors Men’s Basketball season in recent history.”

“You and the Warriors wowed, upsetting competitors, surprising supporters, thrilling fans within and beyond UE,” the University said in a statement.

After four UAAP seasons, the school management said Santiago is parting ways with the team to explore fresh challenges.

UE thanked the head coach for accepting its invitation to lead the basketball team five years ago and becoming the players’ “fatherly frontliner.”

It also expressed gratitude to Santiago’s family for understanding and supporting his work for the squad.

“We in the University of the UUֱ�� community of never-say-die tribes of students, graduates, alumni, faculty members and officers wish to express our sincere, immeasurable gratitude for what you have accomplished in mentoring the UE Red Warriors squad,” the University said.

“We thank you for not just the many feats you have brought out of our student-athletes but also for your countless sacrifices, care and big-heartedness, including numerous going-the-extra-mile, above-and-beyond provisions of nourishment,” it added.

UE said Santiago did not only mold great athletes but also better persons and sportsmen who are “able to transcend limitations and draw closer to their highest potential.”

The management said it is sincerely grateful to Santiago and wished him well in his future endeavors.

For his part, Santiago said, “I sincerely thank UE for the privilege and opportunity to work alongside such talented student-athletes, dedicated staff and passionate supporters for the past five years. The moments on and off the court and the relationships I’ve built with each of them shall remain close to my heart.

A COMMANDING UAAP VICTORY FOR THE UE RED WARRIORS BOYS’ BASKETBALL TEAM!

The UE Red Warriors Boys’ Basketball Team’s hard work and passionate athleticism made for a decisive championship win versus the UST Tiger Cubs, 78-47, in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Finals this Friday, December 20, 2024, 10 a.m. onwards at the FilOil EcoOil Sports Centre!

This is UE’s first UAAP Juniors basketball championship, since 1981, and the University’s first UAAP basketball championship since 1985.

The UE Junior Warriors are composed of mostly Grade 10 students of the UE Basic Education Department, namely (in alphabetical order) Enrico Kristoff E. Bungar, Cyrus John C. Dalosa, Finals MVP Carl Gabriel B. Delos Reyes, Jared Gabriel A. Ferreros, Neil Ysach S. Garcia, Marvic Reyence C. Mesina, Goodluck Chogozie L. Okebata, Ethan T. Oraa, Brian P. Orca Jr., Kiefer Lambert T. Panganiban, and Luisito Joel C. Pascual.

The Champion Boys’ Basketball Team is under the tutelage of Coach Karl Srephen Santos and Coach Andrew Bryan Estrella. Serving as part of the coaching staff are Jacob Christian Manlapaz, Emmanuel Joshua Sevidal, Juan Karlo de Guzman, Paulo Miguel Maligalig, Antonio Carlos Escolin, Nathan Futalan, Louise Gopez, Allan Evangelista, Jacob Lao, Jared Lao, Frank Lao, Claron, Angelo Olan Vergara, and Jamil Pangaibat.

Congratulations, UE Red Warriors Boys’ Basketball Team! We are proud of how far you’ve come and are excited about what you can achieve in the future!

Go Fight, Red and White! GO FIGHT, RED AND WHITE!

BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the current batch of UE student athletes who comprise the UE Red Warriors Girls’, Boys’, and Women’s Judo Teams—for winning the overall UAAP Season 87 Judo Tournament Championship!

The tournament, which was held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium this past Saturday and Sunday, December 14 to 15, 2024, saw the Warrior Lady Judokas claim their fourth consecutive UAAP crown, the Warrior Judoka Girls their back-to-back championship, and the Warrior Judoka Boys their first UAAP title.

Kudos and cheers, Champion Warrior Judokas!

Here’s to more victories by being Stronger, Better, Together in UAAP Season 87!

Go Fight, Red and White! GO FIGHT, RED AND WHITE!

Photo by the