PH student athletes ready for World Universiade

RHINE-RUHR, Germany—The Philippine flag is flying high in Germany as a delegation of student-athletes from various universities across the archipelago converges for the 32nd World University Games, also known as the Summer Universiade.

Held from July 16 to July 27, 2025, across the Rhine-Ruhr region and Berlin, this global sporting spectacle sees the Philippines competing in basketball, volleyball, table tennis, archery, athletics, artistic gymnastics and badminton.

Leading the charge in team sports are the reigning NCAA men’s basketball champions, Mapúa University Cardinals, and the five-time UAAP men’s volleyball champions, National University Bulldogs.

Both teams secured their berths through the rigorous qualification tournaments — the Asian University Basketball League and the Asian University Volleyball League — organized by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, the official university sports body recognized by the International University Sports Federation.

“Qualifying for the top 16 teams in the World University Games is a remarkable achievement,” said Edwin C. Fabro, FESSAP president, who is also serving as the Philippine flag-bearer for the opening ceremony.

The University of Cebu Webmasters have sent a five-athlete strong team, including veteran marathoner Mark Mahinay and a table tennis squad composed of Andrie Caballes, Raphael David Misa, Allana Felize Salar, and Kristiene Kaye Alicaya. Mahinay, a silver medalist at the 2023 ASEAN University Games, is making history as the first Cebuano runner to compete in the Universiade.

The Philippine delegation will be headed by Mary G. Ng, president of the Philippine Inter-School Sport Association, alongside deputy head businessman/sportsman Frank Lao.

The World University Games, a grand celebration of international university sports and culture, brings together over 8,000 student-athletes and officials from more than 100 countries.

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