UST Growling Tigers forward Koji Buenaflor will represent Gilas Pilipinas in the 3×3 basketball tournament of the 20th Asian Games, which will take place in the middle of the UAAP Season 89 basketball tournament.
The Asian Games will be held in Nagoya, Japan from Sept. 21 to 25.
With several UAAP players expected to see action in the Asian Games and FIBA World Cup on Sept. 15-19, the UAAP has adjusted the schedule of its Season 89 basketball tournaments, with only five games slated from Sept. 13 to 30.
The Tigers are scheduled to play three games during the period: the season opener against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sept. 13, a matchup with the De La Salle University Green Archers on Sept. 16, and a game against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on Sept. 30.
Buenaflor made his national team debut in the Youth Nations League-Asia 2 Conference, where the Philippines secured a spot in the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup.
Buenaflor will be joined in the Asian Games by De La Salle University Green Archers Luis Pablo and Doy Dungo, a former Tiger Cub.
Season 89 will be Buenaflor’s second year with the Tigers. He helped the Tiger Cubs end a 24-year UAAP high school basketball championship drought by winning the title in Season 87.
