MANILA, Philippines?An all-star UAAP men?s basketball team will lead 100 varsity athletes who will represent the Philippines in eight events in the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) University Games from Dec. 11 to 21 in Kuala Lumpur.

?For the first time, we?re sending a bigger delegation,? said UAAP president Sergio Cao of host University of the Philippines. ?In men?s basketball, it will probably be a selection.?

The Philippines will also compete in taekwondo, swimming, athletics, table tennis, beach volleyball, badminton and football games of the biennial meet expected to gather 7,000 athletes and officials from 10 countries.

Host UP made the announcement five days before the 71st UAAP season fires off this Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

In the last two editions of the Unigames, Team UAAP-Philippines only competed in the swimming competition.

?We?re sending a big delegation because Kuala Lumpur is quite near and we?re able to get discounted (airline) rates,? said Cao.

In 2006, the UAAP-RP contingent picked up a 5-8-6 gold-silver-bronze medal tally in Hanoi to finish fifth overall behind host Vietnam (74-52-37), Thailand (42-33-49), Indonesia (27-32-34) and Malaysia (7-19-37).

UP swimmer Kendrick Uy dominated both the 50-meter and 100m freestyle aside from anchoring the golden run in the 4x100m medley relay with fellow Maroons Timmy Chua and Jeffrey Laguitao and Ateneo de Manila University?s Michaelmars Danila.

Two-time UAAP Athlete of the Year Luica Dacanay also picked up two gold medals in the 50m and 100m backstroke.

Dacanay also fueled the 10-9-11 medal haul of Team UAAP-RP for a fourth overall finish in the 2004 edition in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar round up the member nations of the Unigames that will feature 21 events this year.