Pu-Men Girls’ Basketball Team Trains in the Philippines, Shows Resilience in Three-Point Loss to NU

Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple

In line with Fo Guang Shan Founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s vision of “propagating the Dharma through sports,” the Fo Guang Shan Pu-Men Senior High School Girls’ Basketball Team arrived in Manila on August 21 for a 10-day overseas training camp. The program is supported by Venerable Yung Guang, Vice President of the Three Acts of Goodness Sports Association and Head Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Philippines, as well as Venerable Hui Chuan, Chairman of Fo Guang Shan Pu-Men Senior High School.

Led by Head Coach Lee Yi-Hsuan, the 15-member delegation will take part in physical conditioning, friendly matches, and cultural activities. Through basketball, the team hopes to build friendships, broaden its horizons, and strengthen teamwork through competitive experience.

Venerable Chueh Lin, Superintendent of Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple, assisted in coordinating the training program and arranging the team’s games. She noted that, in keeping with Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s commitment to nurturing young talent, “Developing a promising young athlete requires a great deal of time, energy, and perseverance.” With approximately half of the current squad made up of new players and the other half returning senior players, the training camp provides an opportunity for them to develop chemistry and strengthen teamwork through intensive training and competition.

Upon arriving at Mabuhay Temple, the team was welcomed by Venerable Chueh Lin, who introduced the temple and its activities. Venerable Chueh Tzu assisted the players in making light offerings and praying for a safe and successful training camp, while Venerable Zhi Rong accompanied and looked after the team throughout their stay.

On their first afternoon in Manila, the players immediately began physical conditioning at the Philippine National Arena near Mabuhay Temple. Venerable Chueh Lin, Venerable Ru Liang, and Venerable Zhi Rong accompanied the team and also interacted with residents of the surrounding community, introducing the visiting girls’ basketball team from Taiwan and creating new connections through sports.

On August 22, Pu-Men faced one of the major challenges of its Philippine training camp—a friendly match against the National University Nazareth School (NU) Lady Bullpups, one of the traditional powerhouses of UAAP girls’ high school basketball. The Lady Bullpups advanced to the championship round of UAAP Season 88 in 2026 and finished as runners-up.

Facing one of the Philippines’ strongest high school teams, Pu-Men showed no hesitation and stayed close throughout the first half. NU held only a three-point advantage, 23–20, at halftime. In the third quarter, NU stepped up its offense and stretched the lead into double digits, ending the period ahead 45–35.

Pu-Men refused to back down in the fourth quarter. Under Coach Lee’s direction, the team adjusted its offensive and defensive rhythm and steadily cut into the deficit. With less than two minutes remaining and NU leading 61–52, Pu-Men sank a crucial three-pointer, followed by a series of free throws and a layup to pull within three points at 61–58, bringing the game down to the wire.

With 32.9 seconds remaining, NU converted two free throws to extend its lead to 63–58. Pu-Men answered with another basket, narrowing the gap to 63–60. With 14.2 seconds left, Pu-Men still had an opportunity to tie the game, but was unable to convert its final chances. NU eventually escaped with a narrow 63–60 victory.

Despite the three-point loss, Pu-Men demonstrated remarkable resilience, rallying from a 10-point deficit and fighting until the final seconds. For a squad composed almost equally of newcomers and returning players, the game also provided an important opportunity to build chemistry. The senior players guided their younger teammates in communication, positioning, and teamwork under pressure—one of the key objectives of the Philippine training camp.

The Pu-Men Girls’ Basketball Team will continue its training and friendly matches in the Philippines, facing teams with different playing styles and competitive rhythms. Through these experiences, the players aim to sharpen their ability to respond under pressure, broaden their horizons, and build friendships through basketball while putting Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s vision of propagating the Dharma through sports and the spirit of the **Three Acts of Goodness—do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts—**into practice.