Pu-Men Girls’ Basketball Team Invited to Inaugural PPBC, Takes on UP in a Valuable Test Against Collegiate Competition

Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple

The Fo Guang Shan Pu-Men Senior High School Girls’ Basketball Team entered the third day of its training camp in the Philippines on August 23 with a new level of competition. Invited as a guest team from Taiwan, Pu-Men took part in the women’s division of the inaugural Philippine Premier Basketball Championship (PPBC), opening its campaign against the University of the Philippines (UP) A Team. The game was also broadcast LIVE by the organizers, giving local basketball fans an opportunity to watch the Taiwanese high school team in action.

Launched in 2026, the PPBC is a new Philippine basketball tournament featuring 25U, 19U, and women’s divisions, providing a competitive platform for teams of different ages and levels. The 25U and 19U divisions feature teams from schools including Jose Rizal University, the University of the East, and San Sebastian. The women’s division includes UP A, UP B, Adamson, Queenpin, and Army, with Pu-Men specially invited to participate as guest team “Taiwan Pumen School.” Veteran Philippine basketball coach Eric Altamirano serves as the tournament commissioner, overseeing the inaugural competition.

Pu-Men’s participation also drew attention from the Philippine sports media. ABS-CBN News and SPIN.ph both mentioned Taiwan Pumen School in their coverage of the inaugural PPBC ahead of the tournament and highlighted the August 23 matchup between UP A and Pu-Men. From media coverage and tournament promotion to the LIVE broadcast, the event gave the Taiwanese high school players an opportunity to step onto the stage of a formal Philippine basketball competition.

For Pu-Men, whose players are still at the high school level, the game represented a rare opportunity to test themselves against collegiate competition. Just one day earlier, the team had battled Philippine high school powerhouse NU Lady Bullpups until the final seconds before falling 63–60. The following morning, Pu-Men immediately shifted to PPBC action against the collegiate-level UP A Team, facing different playing styles and levels of intensity on consecutive days.

Pu-Men stayed close despite UP’s speed and physicality in the opening quarter. The game was tied 2–2 early, and Pu-Men trailed by only six points, 19–13, at the end of the first period. UP began to take control in the second quarter with a series of perimeter shots, while Pu-Men continued to respond through drives, three-pointers, and free throws. UP led 41–25 at halftime.

In the second half, UP increased the pace of its transition offense and defense, and the advantages of the collegiate players in size, physical conditioning, and game experience became increasingly evident. Pu-Men continued to attack and search for scoring opportunities, competing until the final buzzer before concluding the game with a 97–48 loss.

Head Coach Lee Yi-Hsuan expressed her appreciation to Head Abbess Venerable Yung Guang for helping make Pu-Men’s participation in the tournament possible and giving the players an opportunity to compete against teams at a different level.

She said with a smile, “Although we got soundly beaten, we gained so much from the experience. It was incredibly rewarding and fulfilling!” For the players, experiencing firsthand the speed, physicality, and offensive and defensive tempo of a collegiate team offered lessons far more valuable than the final score alone.

Approximately half of Pu-Men’s current roster consists of newcomers, while the other half are returning senior players. Coach Lee has used the series of games to observe how the two groups work together and respond to different situations on the court. From battling NU down to the final seconds one day to taking on a collegiate UP team the next, the contrasting levels of competition provided the players with valuable experience in a short period of time while accelerating the development of team chemistry.

Venerable Chueh Lin said that, in keeping with Fo Guang Shan Founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s commitment to nurturing talent, “Developing a promising young athlete requires a great deal of time, energy, and perseverance.” The purpose of bringing Pu-Men to the Philippines for this training camp is to encourage the young players to step beyond their familiar environment—to see more, learn more, and compete more. Through each game, they can recognize areas for improvement, learn to adjust, and turn every challenge into an opportunity for growth.

From facing Philippine high school powerhouse NU to taking on collegiate-level UP in the inaugural PPBC, Pu-Men has been challenged by opponents of different levels on consecutive days. Beyond wins and losses, competing on different stages and facing strong teams—while also gaining exposure through local media coverage and the PPBC LIVE broadcast—has introduced more Philippine basketball fans to Taiwan’s Pu-Men Girls’ Basketball Team. The experience embodies one of the key goals of the Philippine training camp: building friendships through basketball while broadening the players’ horizons.