🏀 AUBL 2026 returns with 12 elite teams as Indonesia’s Perbanas secures 2027 spot
🇮🇩 Campus League champions from Jakarta will represent Indonesia in Asia's premier university basketball league next season
🎯 The Main Takeaway
The Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) has unveiled its elite 12-team lineup for the 2026 championship, set to tip off from August 2-9 at Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.
The tournament features six returning powerhouses from the inaugural 2025 edition and six first-time participants, including debutants from the Philippines (University of the Philippines) and Australia (University of Sydney).
Meanwhile, Institut Perbanas Jakarta has secured Indonesia’s spot for the AUBL 2027 season after winning the men’s title at Campus League Basketball Season 1 The Nationals on June 13, defeating Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW) 47-45 in overtime at UPH Basketball Court, Tangerang. The women’s title went to Universitas Surabaya (Ubaya), who beat Soegijapranata Catholic University (SCU) 59-51.
Last year, National Chengchi University (NCCU) of Chinese Taipei won the inaugural AUBL championship, defeating Tsinghua University 82-79 in a thrilling final.
Sung Hsin-Hao was named Finals MVP after a monster performance of 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. NCCU finished the tournament a perfect 5-0, while Tsinghua closed with a 4-1 record.
Curious about how Campus League is transforming university sports in Indonesia? Read our deep dive here.
📡 Why It’s on Our Radar
AUBL is rapidly emerging as Asia’s answer to the NCAA, backed by a star-studded roster of investors including Joe Tsai (Brooklyn Nets owner), Marc Lasry (former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner), David Blitzer (Philadelphia 76ers co-owner), and basketball legend Yao Ming.
The league’s debut in 2025 drew over 65 million livestream views and more than 29,000 in-person fans, signaling strong regional appetite for elite collegiate competition.
For Southeast Asia, the tournament represents a significant milestone. The inclusion of the Philippines and Australia for the first time expands the league’s footprint across the region, while Indonesia’s representative, Perbanas, will compete in the 2027 edition against top university programs from across Asia-Pacific.
🏆 The 2026 AUBL Championship Field
Returning Powerhouses (6 teams):
National Chengchi University (Chinese Taipei) – Reigning AUBL 2025 champions; record 74-game winning streak and six consecutive UBA titles (2021-2026)
Tsinghua University (China) – Five CUBAL national championships; AUBL 2025 runners-up
Hakuoh University (Japan) – Three JUBF All-Japan University titles; third place in AUBL 2025
Peking University (China) – CUBAL national champions (2014-15, 2017-19 three-peat, 2024-25)
Yonsei University (Korea) – Five consecutive U-League titles (2016-2020); AUBL test event champions
National University of Mongolia (Mongolia) – MCBA Division I champions (2022, 2023)
First-Time Participants (6 teams):
🇵🇭 University of the Philippines – Four UAAP national titles (1940, 1986, 2022, 2024)
🇦🇺 University of Sydney – Australian University Basketball League champions (2022), runners-up (2024, 2025)
🇯🇵 Waseda University (Japan) – 103-year-old program; JUBF national runners-up (2025)
🇰🇷 Korea University – 14 MBC Cup titles; five consecutive U-League titles (2021-2025)
🇨🇳 Shanghai Jiao Tong University – Yao Ming’s alma mater; CUBAL Southeast Region champions
🇭🇰 The Chinese University of Hong Kong – Ended 33-year title drought in 2025-26
🇵🇭 Spotlight: University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons
The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons bring a storied basketball tradition to the AUBL.
Founded in the early 20th century, UP is one of the founding members (1938) of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP)—the premier sports league in the country—and was also a founding member of the NCAA Philippines in 1924.
Championship History:
UAAP Champions (4): 1940, 1986, 2022, 2024
NCAA Champions (4): 1924, 1925, 1926, 1929 (winning three consecutive titles from 1924-1926)
The Fighting Maroons endured a long championship drought after their 1986 title—a victory that remains legendary in Philippine sports history—before reclaiming UAAP glory in 2022 and following it up with another title in 2024.
UP’s participation in the AUBL marks their first appearance in a pan-regional collegiate tournament, following their UAAP runner-up finish in 2025 and setting the stage for a new generation of Fighting Maroons to test themselves against the continent’s best.
🏀 Indonesia’s Path to AUBL: Perbanas’ Triumph
Perbanas entered The Nationals as a third-place team from the Jakarta-Tangerang regional but defied expectations. The final against UKSW was a defensive battle, with scores tied 40-40 at the end of regulation. In overtime, Muhammad Haikal Malik—named tournament MVP—sank the decisive two-pointer to seal a 47-45 victory.
The win earned Perbanas the right to represent Indonesia in the AUBL 2027 season, which will follow a home-and-away format starting November 2026. They will compete in Conference B alongside teams from Australia, Hong Kong, and Macau.
🎯 What’s at Stake
AUBL’s rapid growth reflects a broader shift: Asia’s university sports ecosystem is professionalising. With investors like Tsai, Lasry, and Yao Ming backing the league, AUBL is positioning itself as a talent pipeline to professional leagues such as the CBA and B.League. For student-athletes, the tournament offers exposure to international scouts and a stage to compete against the continent’s best.
“Getting rejected by an NCAA college remains one of the regrets of my playing career. With AUBL, I’m proud to be able to support the right platform for student athletes in Asia.”
— Yao Ming, AUBL Investor
The inclusion of UP, with its rich UAAP pedigree, adds significant competitive depth and prestige to the tournament, creating a natural rivalry with other regional powers like National Chengchi University and Tsinghua University.
🔮 The Bottom Line
The AUBL 2026 tournament is set to be a landmark event for Asian university basketball, showcasing the region’s growing talent and ambition.
For Indonesia, Perbanas’ victory provides a historic opportunity to compete against the continent’s elite programs on a global stage.
With the University of the Philippines bringing its UAAP championship pedigree and passionate fanbase, the tournament’s Southeast Asian flavor is stronger than ever.
As the league transitions to a home-and-away format in November 2026, the future of Asian collegiate sports is being written—and Southeast Asia is playing a leading role.
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(ELS/QOB)