Arvie Poyos’ basketball dreams have taken him from Kidapawan, North Cotabato, to the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Now with the Fighting Maroons, Poyos will have the opportunity to showcase his talents on the international stage as UP competes in the 2nd Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) Championship this August in China, serving as part of the team’s buildup for his first UAAP season.

Poyos starred for the Jose Maria College men’s basketball team for three years, eventually catching the attention of UP, which has emerged as one of the UAAP’s powerhouse programs in the post-pandemic era after winning two championships in the last five seasons.

“Siyempre, unang-una, nagpapasalamat po ako sa Panginoon po dahil kung wala Siya, hindi ako makarating dito sa Maynila,” said the 5-foot-9 playmaker.

“Sobrang blessed po ako and thankful po ako sa mga coaches and sa mga kaibigan ko dito, sina James Payosing, (Rainer) Maga, (Sean) Franco. Di ko na maisa-isa, pero siyempre nagpapasalamat ako kasi sa awa ng Diyos, noon parang pangarap ko lang ito. Ngayon, makakalaro na ako sa ibang bansa,” he added.

In the AUBL, the premier pan-regional intercollegiate basketball league, UP will test itself against some of the best university teams in Asia and Oceania, with participating schools from host China, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Mongolia, and Australia.

The Fighting Maroons have been drawn into Group B alongside Japan’s Hakuoh University and Korea University. The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the knockout stage.

For Poyos, his fighting spirit is rooted in his provincial upbringing.

“Excited po ako dahil alam naman natin na pag taga-probinsya, lalaban talaga ’yan. Ipapakita ko lang po yung best ko doon. UP Fight!” said Poyos ahead of the AUBL, which will be held from August 2 to 9 at the Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou.

Poyos is expected to bolster UP’s backcourt alongside graduating veterans Noy Remogat and Rainer Maga, junior Jacob Bayla, and fellow rookie Joaquin Tovera.

With two years of UAAP eligibility remaining, Poyos hopes to use the AUBL as a measuring stick for his development as UP’s future floor general.

“Marami rin akong naadjust ngayon dahil marami pa po akong dapat iimprove as a point guard and as a team player.”

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James Payosing continues to gain valuable experience ahead of his much-awaited UAAP debut.

After playing in multiple preseason tournaments with the University of the Philippines and representing the country in the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League 2025, Payosing is set for another major test in the Asian University Basketball League.

The Fighting Maroons will face some of the continent’s top university teams in the 2nd AUBL Championship, scheduled from August 2 to 9 at the Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.

All of those experiences serve as preparation for Payosing’s first of two UAAP seasons, and the former NCAA Finals MVP is grateful he had a residency year to further develop his game.

“Last year, my residency year, tinrabaho ko talaga ‘yung skills ko kasi ‘yun ‘yung kulang ko talaga. Medyo huli ako sa basketball din nung dumating ako dito. First league ko nga ang NCAA, so sabi ko, the residency year would be a good thing for me, na I have a couple of months na magtatrabaho. Nag-focus lang ako and after, nakuha ako doon sa Gilas 3×3, magandang exposure din yun,” said the winger from Bislig, Surigao del Sur.

“Sa AUBL, sobrang laking bagay din ’yon sa amin, We’re so grateful that we’re part of this tournament na pupunta kami sa China. Titingnan lang namin kung ano yung kalalabasan and for sure, malaking tulong ito sa team namin, mag-i-improve kami for this coming UAAP,” he added.

In the AUBL, UP has been drawn into Group B alongside Japan’s Hakuoh University, the third-place finisher in the inaugural edition, and Korea University.

The top two teams from each of the tournament’s four groups will advance to the knockout stage. Universities from China, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, and Australia are also participating.

Payosing, who led San Beda University to the NCAA Season 99 (2023) championship and earned Finals MVP honors, transferred to UP after Season 100 (2024). He believes it was the perfect opportunity following the graduation of the program’s celebrated “Maroon 5” after UAAP Season 88 (2025).

“Sobrang random lang din kasi naisip ko, what if the rest of my playing years, mag-compete ako dito sa UAAP?” said the 6-foot-2 forward on his decision to transfer.

“Nakausap ko rin si Coach Tom Chua, sabi ko, ‘Coach, diyan na ako sa UP,’ and naisip ko rin yung Maroon 5 aalis na rin, so sabi ko it would be a perfect spot for me. Magfi-fit in din ako, knowing Coach Gold. Gusto niya talaga yung dogfight sa game, so I would say na feel ko magfi-fit ako dito sa UP.”

For Payosing, the AUBL is another valuable opportunity for the Fighting Maroons to continue building chemistry and ironing out areas they need to improve before the UAAP season begins.

“Chemistry and bonding namin maganda nga eh, kasi we started training, I think January, second week, tapos sobrang bilis lang ng panahon din. Naka-ilang liga na kami, naka-ilang games na rin kami. It’s a good thing every game kung ano yung result, win or lose, yung tatrabahuhin niyo talaga eh — kung paano kayo mag-stick together,” he said.

“Kung paano kayo mag-unite as a team, kasi yun ang priority na ma-improve namin. Kasi hindi natin masabi sa season, through ups and downs, we should stick together kahit ano yung mangyari. Kasi basketball is a team sport so hindi puwedeng may isa diyan na iba yung pakiramdam.”

The post James Payosing credits residency year for sharpening game ahead of AUBL appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Dieonte Miles’ bond with the University of the Philippines has grown quickly over the past nine months, and the seven-foot center hopes to showcase that progress in the upcoming 2nd Asian University Basketball League Championship this August.

Miles will be a one-and-done center for the Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 89. He spent three years at Xavier University in Cincinnati before playing two more seasons at Morehead State University in Kentucky.

The 24-year-old big man will make his first appearance for UP in the AUBL, scheduled from August 2 to 9 at the Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China. The Fighting Maroons will face top university teams from the host nation, as well as Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Mongolia, and Australia.

“I feel like it’s going to be a good test for us. I feel like it’s us stepping out of our comfort zone a little bit, you know, getting against new competition. Teams that are going to push us to our limit,” said Miles.

“I feel like it only helps us in moving forward into the UAAP season.”

A former NCAA Division I player in the United States, Miles believes joining the Fighting Maroons was the right decision for his continued development and pursuit of success.

He committed to UP while the Fighting Maroons were in the middle of their UAAP Season 88 campaign, witnessing the final season of the team’s celebrated “Maroon 5” core and its Finals loss to De La Salle University.

“I think I chose UP because I think it was a good fit for me. Very team-oriented, you know, very hard-working group of guys,” said Miles.

“Coach Gold (Monteverde) is a very good coach, and you know, just seeing last season’s team and how they were fighting and how they were playing well with each other is just something that was good for me. It benefited me, it’s something I like to be a part of.”

The Fighting Maroons have been drawn into Group B of the AUBL alongside Hakuoh University of Japan and Korea University. UP must finish in the top two of its group to advance to the knockout stage.

With the second edition of the pan-regional intercollegiate tournament serving as a tune-up ahead of the UAAP season, which begins in September, Miles sees the competition as an important step in the team’s preparation.

“The main goal is to just get better. I mean, you know, keep adjusting, because there are a lot bigger goals we have outside of that. So I feel like just, you know, use that as a way to get better,” said Miles.

“Get a good experience, get different level of competition, adjusting to how to play on different schemes and things like that, you know, against different teams. So I feel like just preparation for the UAAP season.”

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