Basketball News: Philippine University Nets Milestone Deal With Jordan Brand

The Jordan Brand reached a milestone deal with a Southeast Asian university that has never been seen before until now.

It was announced earlier today that the company had become the official sponsors of the basketball teams of Philippine-based Ateneo de Manila University going into the 84th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

“It’s exciting to announce Jordan Brand’s only university partnership outside of North America, because there are few places in the world where basketball culture shows up like it does in Manila,” said Jordan Brand president Craig Williams in a press release.

“It is so crucial to invest in young people, and in partnership with Ateneo de Manila University, we can inspire young people through our shared love of the game.”

This partnership will have the iconic Jumpman logo on the jerseys, shorts, tees and jackets of the Ateneo de Manila University’s Men’s, Women’s and High School basketball teams–the only team outside of the United States to have this honor.

Ateneo de Manila University has become the standard of excellence in the local college basketball scene after their dominant run for much of the 2000s and well into the 2010s.

A bid for its fourth-straight title awaits the university based in Quezon City, Philippines once the new season begins this weekend as they look to repeat the feat that they achieved in Season 73 back in 2011.

“Ateneo Basketball has always strived for excellence. Being associated with a prestigious brand such as Jordan is an acknowledgement of this excellence, which will no doubt fuel the desires of many aspiring Pinoy and Pinay players in their own pursuit of greatness. We are all still inspired by MJ’s legacy and his undying love for the game,” added Ateneo de Manila University’s head athletic director Emmanuel Fernandez.

Because of the global pandemic, the UAAP was forced to miss its 83rd season and have most of its athletes move on to the professional leagues whether in the country or abroad.

However, it was announced in late February that the UAAP will return to action this Saturday, March 26 after nearly two years of absence.

A Southeast Asian university being tapped by a company as big as Jordan Brand is a great recognition for what their program has done in recent years to help cultivate the local basketball scene.