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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17852177046092-Composite.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>UP recruits Kennan Ka and Blessing Francis. Handout via UP WBT/Pierre Tayag </div>MANILA -- The University of the Philippines (UP) bolstered its roster for the UAAP Season 89 women&#x27;s basketball tournament with two key recruits.UP announced on Monday that its women&#x27;s basketball team has added Filipino-American player Kennan Ka and Nigerian foreign student-athlete Blessing Chuole Francis.The pair is expected to boost UP&#x27;s frontcourt for the upcoming UAAP wars.Ka, 22, stands at 6-feet and recently starred for Long Beach State before committing to play one season for UP. She also brings ballhandling and playmaking to complement stalwarts Louna Ozar, Camille Nolasco, and Kaye Pesquera.The 21-year-old Francis, meanwhile, stands at 6-foot-1 and is tipped to provide inside presence for the Fighting Maroons, filling the void left by <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/5/21/uaap-favour-onoh-exits-up-to-suit-up-for-oklahoma-state-in-us-ncaa-1555">former Rookie of the Year Favour Onoh</a>.&quot;Talagang big boost sila sa atin because, as we all saw, height is what we had been lacking in the last two years,&quot; said first-year head coach Eric Altamirano.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/3/4/uaap-eric-altamirano-set-for-up-homecoming-named-new-women-s-hoops-coach-1124">READ: Eric Altamirano set for UP homecoming, named new women’s hoops coach</a></div>Francis will join forces with veterans Achrissa Maw and Ninay Tapawan up front, as the Fighting Maroons try to get back into the Final Four picture after fifth and seventh-place finishes in the past couple of seasons.Ka is also expected to share her experience for UP, which is entering a new era under Altamirano.&quot;We have high hopes for the upcoming season, but at the same time, we know how competitive the field is. So the first thing we want to do is just to compete,&quot; said Altamirano, who teamed up with the likes of Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc in UP&#x27;s 1986 championship.

The University of the Philippines (UP) bolstered its roster for the UAAP Season 89 women's basketball tournament with two key recruits.

The University of the Philippines (UP) bolstered its roster for the UAAP Season 89 women's basketball tournament with two key recruits.

UP women welcome Fil-Am player, Nigerian FSA for Season 89

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UP women welcome Fil-Am player, Nigerian FSA for Season 89

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Published July 28, 2026 01:48 PM PHT

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Updated July 28, 2026 02:14 PM PHT

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UAAP

UAAP Season 89

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Kennan Ka

Blessing Francis

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