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Irish Coquia. Handout

Champ de Lunas

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:650px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783062013399image002.png" style="width:650px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Irish Coquia. </font></font><em><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Handout</font></font></em></span></span></span></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Former New Orleans Privateer Irish Coquia has made a major move in his collegiate basketball career,</font></font><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/7/2/uaap-up-secures-commitment-of-fil-canadian-guard-irish-coquia-1926"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"> formally committing to the University of the Philippines</font></font></a><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"> (UP). </font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Coquia announced his decision through an Instagram post last July 2, which immediately drew attention across the Philippine collegiate basketball landscape.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">The 6-foot-1 guard previously spent two years with NCAA Division II school Simon Fraser University (SFU) before moving to Division I program New Orleans. He will have two years of eligibility remaining after serving his residency year with UP. </font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Before his college career, Coquia was already a standout in British Columbia high school basketball. He was a straight three-year MVP of the BC Triple-A High School Provincials, the second-highest level of high school basketball in the province, while leading St. Patrick’s to three championships.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“For me, I was looking into the future,” Coquia said. “At the end of the day, I was born in the Philippines. The biggest thing for me is to play professional basketball, and I believe that’s going to be somewhere in Asia; also the biggest reason why I got my Philippine passport before I was 16.”</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Coquia pointed to the success of former Fighting Maroons Carl Tamayo, Francis Lopez, and JD Cagulangan, who have gone on to play professionally in Japan’s B.League and Korea’s KBL, as part of what made UP an appealing choice.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">He added that he wants to prove that “what I can do in the States and Canada, I can do as well in Asia.”</font></font></div><div> </div><div><strong><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">La Salle stint did not work out</font></font></strong></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Before committing to UP, Coquia had his first taste of Philippine collegiate basketball with De La Salle University.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">The Green Archers invited him to play in one tournament, the Umajam Festival tournament in Agusan del Sur, last March, where he saw limited minutes.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Coquia recalled the difficult circumstances surrounding his arrival.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“I arrived on a Thursday at 6 a.m., had breakfast, and straight to workout at 12 p.m. I rested right after because I had jet lag, then I slept the whole night,” he said. “We left the next day for Agusan del Sur. It was a one-and-a-half-hour flight and a five-hour bus ride.”</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">The following day, Coquia played against University of Santo Tomas at 9 a.m. He said he scored five points in the first two possessions but did not see heavy minutes after. He later followed that up with 14 points in 16 minutes, ironically against UP.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“They weren’t sold enough, in a way,” Coquia said. “I didn’t know what more I could do in the minutes that I had. They just wanted me to prove myself.”</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">He also said there were initial concerns about whether he could handle the physicality of Philippine basketball.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“They were worried if I could handle the physicality,” he said. “But when I came out of the airport, they said, ‘You’re bigger than we thought. You’re stronger than we thought. We thought you were going to be shorter.&quot;</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Coquia stayed with La Salle for approximately one month, from March 24 to April 26. After the last day he thanked coach Topex Robinson for the opportunity to be with the team expressing dismay how things didn’t work out at La Salle, with Robinson telling him, “Thank you for taking the time to experience and bond with you. It’s all good, Irish. Good luck in your next journey.”</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Robinson was reached for comment, but had not responded as of posting time.</font></font></div><div> </div><div><strong><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Legitimate Division I talent</font></font></strong></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Coquia said he was willing to prove himself, but he also felt his credentials should have carried more weight.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“I was already at the Division II level. I had multiple Division I offers. I already committed to Division I,” he said.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">He noted that many players aspire to reach the NCAA Division I level, a stage he had already experienced.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“What more did I have to prove?” Coquia said.</font></font></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:650px;display:block" width="650"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783064645543image001.png" style="width:650px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="650"/><span class="fr-inner"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Irish Coquia. </font></font><em><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Handout</font></font></em></span></span></span></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">During his time in the United States, Coquia played against high-level competition, including University of Memphis, coached by former NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway. In that game, he scored 10 points along with 6 assists, and 2 rebounds, on 3-of-5 shooting from the field while also making three free throws.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">He also faced University of Houston, which featured Kingston Flemings, the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, as well as Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, and Texas Tech University.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“I felt like I needed a little more room and a bit more time because I know I would have done more.” Coquia said. “The fact that they weren’t really sold — I was coming to practice every day, working hard, committed to team activities, and willing to show that I would do anything.”</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">He admitted that things not working out with La Salle was disappointing because of the relationships he had built in such a short amount of time. He was hoping that it would have worked out but added that ”everything happens for a reason. </font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“It’s kind of sad because I got close to the whole team. It felt like my home,” he said.</font></font></div><div> </div><div><strong><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Risking a Division I opportunity for the future</font></font></strong></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">For Coquia, coming to the Philippines is both a risk and an investment for his future.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“It is a risk coming to the Philippines,” he said. “But the future does look bright. At the end of the day, I’m willing to risk and sacrifice what I had in the States to come down and prove myself again.”</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">UP quickly made its move after meeting with Coquia’s parents in Vancouver.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">The guard also made a strong impression when he scored 31 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds for Drive Basketball in an exhibition game against UP at the SFU West Gym last month. UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde in an earlier report said that he will help UP after Rey Remogat and Rainier Maga exhausts their eligibility this season.</font></font></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Familiarity with UP players</font></font></strong></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Coquia already has several connections within the UP program. </font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">He was teammates with incoming senior Elliot Dimaculangan at SFU, whose description of UP’s work ethic appealed to him.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“Talking to Elliot previously, he said that they get pushed hard to their limits in their practices, and that is exactly what I am built for,” Coquia said. “I’m happy to be there, being in the gym and working hard. The fact that they do extra time before and after practice — that’s something I love.”</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Although Coquia has had a solid college career so far, he said he is looking to rediscover the winning environment he enjoyed in high school.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“In my high school career, I was a back-to-back-to-back champion. I want that winning culture again,” he said.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Aside from Dimaculangan, Coquia also has ties with Jacob Bayla and Sean Alter.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“Me and Jacob are close,” Coquia said. “And Sean and I go back to Fil-Am camps in high school. I’ve known them since high school.”</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">According to Coquia, the coaches told him that once he suits up for the Fighting Maroons in Season 90, they simply want him to be himself.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“As long as I know that my coach has confidence in me, I have nothing stopping me to give it my all and putting the ball in the hoop. That doesn’t mean it’ll be a one man show; I’m gonna do my best to make the team better as a whole.”</font></font></div><div> </div><div><strong><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Gilas dream</font></font></strong></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Born in the Philippines and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Coquia said he is a dual citizen and had his Philippine passport before he turned 16 </font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Playing for UP, he believes, is a step toward his long-term goal of representing Gilas Pilipinas.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">That goal also played a role in his decision not to suit up for Canada’s men’s 3x3 team this year.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“Luckily, I talked to Coach Tom, and someone from the UP staff asked, ‘Hey, are you doing it?’ They told me, ‘I don’t think you should do it because you’ll be considered an import for professional teams,’” Coquia said. “I did not know that. That kind of saved me.”</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">He described the decision as a sacrifice with a bigger goal in mind.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“It was a business decision, for sure. I had to sacrifice that to get something bigger in the future,” he said.</font></font></div><div> </div><div><strong><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Message to the UP community</font></font></strong></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">After serving his residency year, Coquia is expected to help fill the void left by Rey Remogat.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">His message to the UP community is simple. “Just be excited,” Coquia said.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“Hopefully, I can bring you guys a lot of wins, happiness, and joy. Watch out for us in these next couple years.I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to represent UP and I hope you guys come out and support, I’m super excited to be there.” </font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">Coquia also has one wish for Dimaculangan, his fellow Fil-Canadian and former schoolmate.</font></font></div><div><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit"><font dir="auto" style="vertical-align:inherit">“Hopefully, everything goes your way next year,” he said. “I’m trying to play with you one last time. Hopefully, we go out there, win, and win a championship together. Go Fighting Maroons!”</font></font></div>

<p>Irish Coquia on transfer to UP: “This is the best decision" — position-wise, everything-wise.”</p>

Irish Coquia on transfer to UP: “This is the best decision" — position-wise, everything-wise.”

Why Irish Coquia chose UP after NCAA Division I stint

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Why Irish Coquia chose UP after NCAA Division I stint

Champ de Lunas,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 03, 2026 03:21 PM PHT

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Updated July 03, 2026 04:14 PM PHT

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