The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), established in 1938, is an athletic association of eight Metro Manila universities in the Philippines. The eight-member schools are Adamson University (AdU), Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University (DLSU), Far Eastern University (FEU), National University (NU), University of the East (UE), University of the Philippines Diliman (UP), and the University of Santo Tomas (UST).
Varsity teams from these universities compete annually in the league's multiple sports categories to vie for the overall championship title, namely, 3x3 basketball, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, standard & blitz chess, fencing, football, judo, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo kyorugi & poomsae, tennis, and volleyball. Meanwhile other events not scoring towards the overall championship includes cheerdance, esports, golf, and street dance.
History In 1924, seeing the need to organize collegiate sports and set general athletic policies, Dr. Regino Ylanan (the University of the Philippines Physical Education Director) met with representatives of Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle College, San Beda College, National University, University of Manila, University of Santo Tomas, and Institute of Accounts (now Far Eastern University) to discuss possibilities of forming an athletic organization, which eventually became the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
In 1930, the University of the Philippines sponsored an experimental meet of the "Big Three" of the league (NU, UP, UST) on basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, swimming, athletics, boxing, and tennis.
The following year in 1931, the NCAA Board of Directors divided the meet into three divisions to put competition on a fairer basis and to stimulate athletics among a greater number.
In March 1932, NU, UP, and UST formally seceded from the NCAA. Led by UP's Candido C. Bartolome, NU's Leon Tirol and UST's Fr. Silvestre Sancho, OP, the move was made to put competitions on equal footing, to increase amateur athletic competitions and to separate the universities from the college members of the league. On April 6, the "Big Three League" was born. On August 14, the "Big Three" Association was inaugurated with a meet that starts with basketball. Other events were baseball, football, volleyball, relays, athletics, swimming and tennis.
In 1935, UP did not participate in the "Big Three League" because of mass intramurals at the state university. NU and UST held the meet with FEU (formerly Institute of Accounts) taking UP's place.
On September 27, 1938, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association and the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF), then the highest sports body in the country, encouraged the original "Big Three League" and FEU to form a permanent sports association, thus the University Athletic Association of the Philippines was established. Events included were basketball, baseball, football, women's volleyball, swimming and athletics. UP bagged three titles (baseball, volleyball, athletics). UST topped in football and swimming and FEU triumphed in basketball.
In 1941, the outbreak of World War II hindered the staging of the 1941–42 UAAP with UST failing to complete its term. The UAAP competition was not held from 1942 to 1946 due to the Japanese occupation of the country which resulted in the closure of educational institutions. The UAAP competition resumed in 1947.
In 1952, University of the East, Adamson University, Manila Central University, and University of Manila were granted two-year probationary membership to the UAAP. After the two-year probationary period, UE and MCU were accepted as regular members in 1954. MCU remained until its pull-out in 1962. The other two universities (Adamson and UM) were dropped from the UAAP due to their inability to comply with league requirements.
In 1970, Adamson University reapplied for admission to the league with a two-year probationary period and in 1974, Adamson successfully hosted the 1974–75 athletic season, paving the way for its permanent membership into the league.
In 1978, the UAAP admitted Ateneo de Manila University into the league while De La Salle University joined in 1986.
In 2020, the 2019–20 competition was initially intended to end in May that year. However, the competition abruptly ended early in April due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the ongoing pandemic, the planned 2020–21 tournament was cancelled, the first in peacetime. The league resumed the tournament on March 26, 2022 with its 84th season.
On August 20, 2024, the UAAP announced a proposal for a new 6,000-capacity indoor arena tentatively named the "Home of the UAAP". The proposed venue would be located in Pasig and is planned to open in 2027, in time for the association's 90th season. The arena will be constructed on a 1.8-hectare site across from the Bridgetowne estate, in partnership with Akari Lighting & Technology Corporation. Groundbreaking for the arena commenced on October 24, 2025. The planned seating capacity was also increased to over 8,000, and the arena will also be open to other leagues such as the PBA, PVL, and NCAA.
Logo
The previous UAAP logo features the university colors of the eight member-schools of the league in a circular formation. It also bears the year when the league was established, 1938, in the center.
The seal changes every season where the university colors of the season host is placed on the very top. Nonetheless, the arrangement of the colors never changes.
The colors of the National University (blue and gold), Far Eastern University (green and gold), University of Santo Tomas (gold and white), and the University of the Philippines (green and maroon), come first counter-clockwise. These are followed by the colors of the University of the East (red and white), Adamson University (navy blue and white), De La Salle University (green and white), and the Ateneo de Manila University (sky blue and white). The arrangement of the school colors is based from their admission in the UAAP (except for Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University's colors).
Prior to the start of UAAP Season 84 in March 2022, the league unveiled its new logo on December 17, 2021. The new logo was inspired by the Philippine traditional native sport sipa. Though the school colors arrangement was followed in reverse Season 84 (the season that the UAAP adopted the current logo), the arrangement of school colors still changes every season beginning with Season 85. The host school's colors is placed at the topmost "sipa" streak.
Member schools The following are the member schools of the league: Colors School Location Founded Joined Type Collegiate division High school division Adamson University Manila 1932 1970Private (Vincentian) Soaring Falcons, Lady Falcons, Baby Falcons and Lady Baby Falcons Ateneo de Manila UniversityQuezon City 18591978Private (Jesuit) Blue Eagles De La Salle UniversityManila 19111986Private (Lasallian) Green Archers and Lady Archers De La Salle Santiago Zobel SchoolMuntinlupa Junior Archers and Lady Junior Archers Far Eastern University Multiple 1928 1938Private Tamaraws and Lady Tamaraws Far Eastern University–DilimanQuezon City2005 Baby Tamaraws National UniversityMultiple 19001938Private Bulldogs, Lady Bulldogs, Bullpups and Lady Bullpups National University Nazareth School2005 University of the East Multiple 1946 1952Private Red Warriors and Lady Warriors Junior Warriors and Lady Junior Warriors University of the Philippines Diliman Quezon City 1908 1938Public Fighting Maroons University of the Philippines Integrated School1938 Junior Fighting Maroons University of Santo Tomas Manila 1611 1938 Private (Dominican) UST Growling Tigers, Tigresses, Tiger Cubs and Tigress Cubs
Guest schools Since UAAP Season 87, the league has signed memorandums of agreement for notable high school programs to join various events as guest teams. The Southridge Admirals have participated in five events since 2025, namely boys' football, swimming, baseball, tennis, and fencing, while the Claret Red Roosters rounded out the participating schools in boys' football.
Colors School Location Founded Years Active High school division Guest Membership Boys Girls Claret School of Quezon CityQuezon City19672025–presentRed Roosters Boys' football PAREF Southridge SchoolMuntinlupa19792025–presentAdmirals Boys' swimming, baseball, football, tennis, and fencing
Former full member schools School Location Founded Joined Left Type Current association Manila Central University Caloocan 1904 1952 1962 Private UCAL University of Manila Manila 1913 1952 1954 Private
Membership timeline
Sports
Member universities compete in multiple sports. Basketball, being the most popular sport in the Philippines, is the most watched and most supported among all the sports. Volleyball and cheerdance are also equally considered marquee events in the UAAP due to growing respective fanbases and media coverage in the country. All of these sports have Men's and Women's divisions, with the exception of baseball, in which only men participate, and softball, which is for women only.
The following sports have a high school division, in which the associated high schools of the universities participate: volleyball, table tennis, chess, swimming, fencing, and athletics have Boys' and Girls' divisions. Meanwhile, baseball and football have a Boys' division only. Basketball staged Girls' division competitions starting Season 82 albeit as demo sport only. Junior High School Basketball was introduced as a demo sport in Season 86.
Esports made its debut in Season 87. Rapid and Blitz Chess were also introduced as demonstration sports in Season 87. Golf is the latest sport that was added by the league and made its debut as a demonstration sport in Season 88.
Sports calendar Beginning with Season 78 in 2015, the league shifted its sports schedule start from July to September because of the change in the academic calendars of most of its member universities. In 2024, the calendar shifted to start by August with the debut of esports in Season 87. Esports would later be moved to the second semester in Season 88.
First semester sports (September–December) Basketball (Collegiate and 16U) – September (SM Mall of Asia Arena, Smart Araneta Coliseum, UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym) Football (Collegiate) – September (UP Diliman Football Stadium, Rizal Memorial Stadium, Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub Football Field) Volleyball (High School) – September (Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym, Adamson University Gym, Paco Arena, FEU Diliman Gym) Standard Chess – September (Adamson University Gym) Badminton (Collegiate) – October (Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall) Athletics – November (New Clark City Athletics Stadium) Swimming – November (New Clark City Aquatic Center) Table Tennis – November (Amoranto Sports Complex) Beach Volleyball (Collegiate) – November (Sands at SM by the Bay) Cheerdance (Coed) – December (SM Mall of Asia Arena)
Second semester sports (January–August) Baseball (High School) – January (Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium) Basketball (19U) – January (Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym, Filoil Centre, Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Adamson University Gym) Football (High School) – January (UP Diliman Football Stadium, Rizal Memorial Stadium) Beach Volleyball (High School) – February (Sands at SM by the Bay) Volleyball (Collegiate) – February (SM Mall of Asia Arena, Smart Araneta Coliseum, UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, Filoil EcoOil Centre) Tennis – February (CSA Bulacan Tennis Court) Softball – February (Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium) Baseball (Collegiate) – February (Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium) Fencing – March (Makati Coliseum) Blitz Chess – April (Adamson University Gym) Judo – April (Rizal Memorial Coliseum) Taekwondo – April (Rizal Memorial Coliseum)