Mindanao’s premier young hoopers took to the court as the Davao Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (DASAFI), in partnership with the City Government of Davao, formally opened Season 2 of Men’s Basketball: Hunt for Glory at the Davao City Recreation Center on September 5, 2026, with 12 collegiate teams joining the hunt.
Following the successful inaugural Season 1 and the staging of the 2026 Volleyball League Mindanao for Men’s and Women’s Divisions last February 2026, DASAFI Men’s Basketball returns to continue its mission of elevating Mindanawon sporting talent.
Born from a vision to match the prestige and fierce competitive spirit of Manila’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and Cebu’s Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI), DASAFI aims to provide local athletes with equally intense, championship-caliber basketball in their home region.
For John Paul Escobal, DASAFI President and League Commissioner, the league’s second season is a crucial step toward retaining and elevating homegrown talent right where it belongs.
“To our athletes, for too long, talented players in Mindanao felt they had to pack their bags and move to Manila and Cebu just to be seen,” Escobal said during the opening ceremony.
“DASAFI exists so you don’t have to leave home to achieve greatness. This league is your stage. It is an annual high-caliber platform designed to showcase your skills right here in front of your families, your schoolmates and your local communities,” he added.
Running from September 5 until December 3, 2026, the three-month league brings together 12 college institutions across the region vying for the championship crown, including Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines, AVS Aeroviation School of Mindanao Inc., Brokenshire College Inc., Cor Jesu College, Inc., Jose Maria College Foundation Inc., Lyceum of the Philippines-Davao, Rizal Memorial Colleges, Inc., San Pedro College, St. John Paul II College of Davao, and University of Mindanao-Tagum College.
Joining the tournament as new participating schools this year are Holy Cross of Davao College and DMMA College of Southern Philippines.
The season opens with San Pedro College versus Rizal Memorial Colleges, Inc., followed by defending champion Jose Maria College Foundation Inc. against AVS Aeroviation School of Mindanao Inc. in the second game.
Escobal also invited Dabawenyos, students, and basketball fans to watch the games for free on Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Davao City Recreation Center.
“Tabangay ta ninyo para mapadako gyud nato ang liga para sa atoang student athlete’s diria sa Davao Region (Let us work together to expand this league for the benefit of our student-athletes here in the Davao Region),” he added.
Official updates and match coverage are also available via livestream on the DASAFI’s official Facebook page: https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582207348869. CIO
Written by: N. Malasado
Edited by: A. Nawal
Photo by: J. Lopez