These squads have quite a number of national team-caliber players.
Men's basketball is back in the UAAP after three long years, and it looks like experience with the national team is proving to be invaluable.
The National University Bulldogs, champions of Season 81, showed they're still a powerhouse squad after beating the Ateneo Blue Eagles in straight sets, 25-23, 25-11, 25-20.
"'Yung naging suporta ng UAAP sa men's volleyball, sobrang ganda. Binigyan kami ng pagkakataon na maipakita sa buong Pilipinas na ang men ay naglalaro na rin," NU coach Dante Alinsunurin Jr. said.
He was also the former national team coach, who led star players like Nico Almendras and Joshua Retamar to a silver in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. NU has since delivered several championships in various tournaments during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the 2022 Spikers' Turf. And now they're bringing that winning caliber to the UAAP.
"Para sa akin, tinutulungan ko 'yung mga bagong kasama sa loob ng court, para 'yung tinuturo sa amin hindi mawala at makapag-focus sila," said Almendras, who had 12 points coming off 9 attacks, 2 blocks, and an ace.
Michaelo Buddin, the 2022 Spikers' Turf Open Conference Finals MVP, admits he's still got a lot to improve on, even after scoring 13 points from 9 attacks and 4 blocks.
"'Yung expectation ng mga tao sa'kin, 'yung pressure na rookie pa lang, 'yung bago sa UAAP. Siguro next time, medyo mawawala na 'yung pressure," he said.
The University of the East Red Warriors also got a resounding start to the conference with Lloyd Josafat, as they beat the Adamson Falcons in straight sets, 25-18, 25-22, 25-14.
Josafat had just come from Taiwan the day before, as he trained with the current national men's volleyball pool. But in the second set, when Adamson was making a run, assistant coach Ronwald Dimaculangan said he had to call in Josafat. He made 10 points from 8 attacks, a block, and an ace.
"Napansin ko kailangan ng spark plug lara lumayo, and he delivered as expected," shared Dimaculangan, who was calling the shots in place of Jerome Guhit. Coach Jerome is also with the national team in Taiwan.
"Sobrang laki talaga, sobrang na-boost 'yung confidence," Josafat said of his training with the national team, "Kaya pagbalik ko, parang 'yung attitude ng national team, dinala ko dito sa UE."
The Red Warriors will next face the Blue Eagles, who just suffered a loss to the Bulldogs. But Dimaculangan is carrying a chip on his shoulder when it comes to facing a daunted program in Ateneo.
"They have a very good recruitment program compared to us," he said. "Siguro sa determination and hard work...pwede ko sabihin na kami mas doble, mas hard working kasi mas marami kaming kailangang patunayan."