Written by: Dr. Donnavila Marie P. Herbster

Sport builds healthy bodies, disciplined minds and strong communities. In a compact highland city like Baguio, where large indoor courts are scarce and the weather often drives games indoors, a well-equipped university gymnasium is a valuable public asset. The University of Baguio (UB) treats its sports facilities in that spirit. The UB Cardinals Gymnasium, home of the Cardinals varsity teams and of the University’s own intramurals, regularly opens its doors to young athletes from local and regional schools, to regional school sports meets, to inter-collegiate leagues and to government and community events.

This sharing supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by giving young people across Northern Luzon a quality venue for competitive sport. It also supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), target 11.7, by widening access to safe, inclusive public spaces.

A home court for young athletes from across Northern Luzon

NBTC North Luzon Regional Championship, 2026

From January 31 to February 3, 2026, UB hosted the North Luzon Regional Championship of the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC), the national high school basketball program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. Twenty-four of the region’s most promising high school teams competed for places in the NBTC National Finals. Games opened across four venues, and from February 1 all remaining games moved to the UB Gym.

The participants included local schools such as Berkeley School Baguio, the Saint Louis University Cubs and the Cordillera Career Development College of La Trinidad, alongside UB’s own Red Robins. Teams also came from Pampanga, Bataan, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Ilocos Sur and Olongapo. The championship game, in which the Nueva Ecija D’Generals edged the Marlins of Bulacan, 91–89, was played at the UB Cardinals Gym on February 3. UB had also hosted the NBTC regional finals in January 2020, which makes the University a recurring home for the program in the north.

Regional school sports: CARAA 2023

UB’s gymnasium also serves DepEd’s school sports system. When the City Government of Baguio hosted the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet and Regional Athletic Festival from April 29 to May 1, 2023, the UB Gym was the official venue for arnis. Elementary and secondary school athletes from across the Cordillera competed there for places in the Palarong Pambansa.

Inter-collegiate competition

UB has also opened its court to college teams from neighboring institutions. The inaugural Z League Inter-Collegiate Basketball League tipped off at the UB Gymnasium on July 29, 2023. It brought together twelve colleges: eight from Baguio and Benguet, including the University of the Cordilleras, Saint Louis University, the Philippine Military Academy, Baguio Central University, Baguio College of Technology, Cordillera Career Development College and Benguet State University, and four from Pangasinan. The UB Gym has likewise served as a game venue for the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL), the region’s long-running collegiate league.

Facilities open to the wider community

Beyond sport, UB opens its gymnasium and campus spaces to government agencies and community organizations. In 2024, the UB Gym hosted the Professional Regulation Commission – CAR’s oath-taking ceremonies for newly licensed professional teachers on January 14 and July 7, under an existing Memorandum of Agreement. It also hosted a Commission on Higher Education internationalization event, ASMEPPS’s National Battle of Math and Science Champions, a COMELEC offsite voter registration activity organized with STELA, Philippine Creative Industries Month activities and a public concert.

UB reports that most venue use is free when UB is the host. Fees apply only to selected external events, to cover maintenance, manpower and logistics. Standard rental rates are set by the Campus Planning and Development Office and approved by University management.

A clear process for external users

UB makes its facilities available to outside groups through a published venue reservation policy, managed by the Campus Planning and Development Office (CPDO):

Government agencies and private organizations may request the UB Gym and other venues, subject to the University President’s approval.
Requirements are finalized one month and two weeks before the activity, with a 50% down payment on submission of the reservation form.
A refundable bond (₱10,000 for the UB Gym; ₱5,000 for other venues) covers any damage, and is released on CPDO clearance.
Organizers coordinate with the UB Security Office and local police for safety and traffic management.

This process gives schools, leagues and agencies a clear and predictable way to use University facilities, while protecting them for students and future users. UB’s Athletics Office, on the second floor of the UB Gym, manages the University’s intramural, club and varsity sports programs.

At a glance

Event / arrangement	Date	Facility	Community users	Organizer
NBTC North Luzon Regional Championship	Jan 31 – Feb 3, 2026	UB Cardinals Gym (main venue; all games from Feb 1)	24 high school teams, incl. Berkeley School Baguio, SLU Cubs, CCDC	Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas / NBTC
Z League Inter-Collegiate Basketball (Season 1)	From Jul 29, 2023	UB Gymnasium	12 colleges from Baguio, Benguet and Pangasinan	Z League
CARAA Meet 2023: arnis	Apr 29 – May 1, 2023	UB Gym	Elementary and secondary athletes from across the Cordillera	DepEd / City Government of Baguio
NBTC regional finals	Jan 17, 2020	UB Cardinals Gym	Regional high school basketball teams	NBTC
Other community and public events	2024	UB Gym and campus spaces	PRC-CAR, CHED, ASMEPPS, COMELEC, concert audiences	Various agencies and organizations
Standing venue reservation policy	Ongoing	UB Gym and other venues	Government agencies and private organizations	Campus Planning and Development Office

Moving forward

By hosting regional youth basketball, CARAA events and inter-collegiate leagues, and by opening its gymnasium to agencies and community groups, UB shares one of its most important facilities with the people of Baguio, Benguet and Northern Luzon. Its venue policy gives outside users a transparent route to access.

To deepen this commitment, UB could set regular open schedules or free access for partner schools and barangays, such as its adopted Barangay Pinsao Proper. It could also formalize sports-facility agreements with nearby schools and keep a yearly log of community users, so that the gym continues to serve as a shared home for healthy, active living in the city.

Open Courts, Shared Goals: How the University of Baguio Shares Its Sports Facilities with the Community