The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The presence of international teams in the Roxas City Invitational Tournament 2026 is expected to boost the city’s sports tourism campaign and give local basketball players an opportunity to see and experience competition at a higher level.
Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas said bringing Australian teams Universal Athletic Center (UAC) Keysborough and Brian Kerle Academy of Brisbane to the city is part of the effort to attract bigger sporting events and visitors to the Seafood Capital of the Philippines.
“Inviting international teams will definitely boost sports tourism in Roxas City,” Dadivas said.
He said the city also made sure the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center was prepared to host the tournament and meet the needs of the participating teams.
“As we prepared our venue, the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center, this is the standard that we want. And I think our participating teams are happy with the venue,” Dadivas added.
The tournament is not only about the teams competing for the championship.
Dadivas said the event also gives local players an opportunity to learn from the visiting squads while allowing basketball fans to watch a different level of competition.
“And this is an opportunity to showcase the talents. Not only the participating teams but also spectators and our local basketball players,” he said.
The arrival of international teams also gives young players in Roxas City a chance to watch foreign players up close and gain a better understanding of the demands of the game.
For the city government, hosting the invitational is another step toward establishing Roxas City as a destination for major sporting events.
With the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center serving as the main venue, city officials hope the tournament will help draw more visitors and further strengthen Roxas City’s growing sports tourism program.
Aside from the two Australian teams, UAAP teams La Salle and Adamson University and NCAA member University of Perpetual Help System Are Also entered in the tournament.
Assisting Mayor Dadivas are executive director Miggy Dadivas and veteran tournament organizer Van Halen Parmis.
Mike Reyes is the tournament commissioner with former PBA chairman Buddy Encarnado serving as league consultant.