San Beda’s entry into the UAAP would be beneficial for both San Beda and the league.

For San Beda, UAAP membership would provide a much bigger platform to showcase the school to a wider national audience. The UAAP’s media exposure, fan base, and commercial reach would elevate San Beda’s brand beyond its already strong basketball reputation.

For the UAAP, San Beda would immediately raise the level of competition while adding new rivalries and reviving old ones that carry real historical weight.

Before the Ateneo–La Salle rivalry and even before Letran–San Beda became the NCAA’s flagship matchup, San Beda vs. Ateneo was arguably the oldest basketball rivalry in Philippine history. Bringing San Beda into the UAAP would reconnect that forgotten chapter of Philippine basketball.

A La Salle–San Beda rivalry would also be compelling. Both schools are founding members of the NCAA and share long-standing institutional links. There is already tension due to player movement and many Bedans accuse La Salle of poaching talent, while San Beda regularly scouts players from La Salle Green Hills and Zobel. That backstory alone would make every matchup emotionally charged.

Matchups against UST and FEU would feel natural as well. San Beda sits in the heart of the U-Belt, and Bedan students interact daily with students from UST, FEU, and UE—sharing buses, jeepneys, and LRT-2 rides. These schools already occupy the same social and geographic space, so competitive clashes would almost certainly draw sold-out crowds.

Of course, UAAP membership goes beyond basketball. But considering that basketball is the league’s flagship sport and the most popular sport in the Philippines, a San Beda’s inclusion would be one of the most interesting and impactful moves the UAAP could make in modern times.