From Beda to UP: James Payosing brings premium spark to UAAP

PUMPED. James Payosing in action for the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament.

UAAP

James Payosing, an NCAA champion and a Finals MVP with the San Beda Red Lions, brings the same winning mentality to the UP Fighting Maroons

AT A GLANCE

• James Payosing made a strong debut for the UP Fighting Maroons, scoring 16 points and contributing to their 94-75 victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
• Payosing, a former NCAA champion, emphasizes teamwork and aims to bring a winning mentality to UP, filling the void left by key players from previous seasons.
• He believes in the importance of each player excelling in their roles to maintain the team's success, as UP currently leads the standings at 2-0.

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MANILA, Philippines – James Payosing needed just 15 minutes to show he truly belongs on the UAAP stage.

The former NCAA champion poured in 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting and added 3 rebounds and 2 assists as the UP Fighting Maroons dispatched the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 94-75, on Saturday, September 19.

Payosing did it at the Araneta Coliseum, the same venue where he led the San Beda Red Lions to the NCAA Season 99 championship in 2023 and earned Finals MVP honors.

Now, he is looking to bring that same winning mentality to UP.

“As a player, my mindset is that I’m in a team sport, so I’m just doing my role that complements the team. When one wins, everybody does,” Payosing said after just his second game with UP following his initial commitment in 2024.

“Since this is my first season here in the UAAP, I’m just embracing the games and the opportunity. Whenever I play, I aim to stand out in my role.”

That has always been Payosing’s approach, even during his time at San Beda.

The 6-foot-2 guard knows when to pick his spots, rarely forces the issue, and brings an unrelenting intensity on defense. He does not need the ball in his hands to make an impact, and against Ateneo, that versatility proved valuable.

Payosing helped contain Ateneo’s rookie sensation Kieffer Alas, who was held to just 3 points in the second half. Alas finished with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting as Ateneo struggled to find answers against UP’s defense.

For Payosing, the performance was another glimpse of what he can bring to a team built around a collective identity rather than one dominant star.

The 23-year-old is also enjoying a rare opportunity to bring glory to two of the country’s proudest collegiate programs over the past five years, San Beda and UP.

“I expect a winning culture here at UP. Winning a championship isn’t easy, but I’ve been preparing for it since last year, my residency year,” Payosing said.

At UP, Payosing is expected to help fill the void left by Harold Alarcon, Reyland Torres, and Terrence Fortea, three key pieces of a Fighting Maroons team that reached the UAAP finals in each of the last five seasons.

Payosing appears to be comfortable with the challenge of filling those shoes.

UP now sits atop the standings at 2-0 after the first week of games, and Payosing hopes his role can help keep the Fighting Maroons on the same path that made them a fixture in the UAAP title picture.

“All I’m saying is that let’s be star players in each of our roles so that when the five of us are on the court, we’re all superstars,” Payosing said.

“The level of competition is almost the same [as the NCAA] and it really comes down the mindset that whoever wants to win the most will win,” he added. – Rappler.com