Be The Light! The 13th Fo Guang CUP Kicks Off on July 28

The Merit Times
July 28, 2026

Taiwan’s most internationally visible collegiate basketball extravaganza of the summer is here! The Fo Guang CUP International University Basketball Invitational will tip off on July 28 at the Kaohsiung Arena. Featuring 16 top-tier men's and women's teams from home and abroad, the 6-day tournament promises to ignite another wave of summer basketball fever.

Jointly organized by the Kaohsiung City Government and Fo Guang University, and executed by the Three Acts of Goodness Sports Association, the 13th Fo Guang Cup will run for six days from July 28 to August 2. Bringing together elite international basketball talent to showcase youthful vitality, the tournament is highly anticipated.

The origin of the Fo Guang Cup International University Basketball Invitational lies in the vision of Fo Guang Shan founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun: "fostering talents through education." Using sports as a bridge, the tournament is committed to promoting youth development and facilitating international exchange.

This year's tournament theme, "Be the Light," symbolizes shining bright, inspiring one another, and encouraging players to radiate passion and energy on the court.

The organizers held a press conference today at Fo Guang Shan. Key attendees included Venerable Hui Chuan, Executive Vice Abbot of Fo Guang Shan; Hou Tsun-yao, Director of the Sports Development Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government; Li Kun-chong, Vice President of Fo Guang University; Sunny Li, Vice President of ASE Group; Kao Chin-hsiung, President of the Three Acts of Goodness Sports Association; Liu Chao-ming, Honorary President of the Three Acts of Goodness Sports Association, and his wife; Venerable Yong Guang, Vice President of the Three Acts of Goodness Sports Association; Venerable Jue Yu, Secretary-General of the Three Acts of Goodness Sports Association; and Datin Seri Yeoh Chooi Leng, Head of Delegation from Malaysia. They gathered to share highlights of the upcoming games and invite the public to watch the tournament.

The event kicked off with energetic singing and dancing performances by the cheerleading squad of Guang Ming College (Philippines) and children from Tzu Hang Kindergarten. A video featuring teaching from Venerable Master Hsing Yun regarding the Fo Guang Cup was also played. The Master remarked: "The two opposing sides are not enemies; the team must support each other. While charge forward aggressively in the game, keep a benevolent heart and know when to stop. Team members should create opportunities for one another to achieve collective success!"

In his sermon, Venerable Hui Chuan noted that Venerable Master Hsing Yun loved sports and befriended people through basketball, propagating the Dharma through various dimensions including culture, education, music, and sports. The Fo Guang Cup has invited top-tier teams to compete, conveying the "Three Acts of Goodness" philosophy and encouraging everyone to "Be the Light"—to become an inspiring light for others.

Having consistently provided enthusiastic assistance to the Fo Guang Cup and supported the tournament's return to Kaohsiung Arena, Director Hou Tsun-yao reaffirmed during his speech that "Fo Guang Shan's affairs are Kaohsiung City Government's affairs." He shared how Kaohsiung has partnered with Fo Guang Shan to successfully host events such as the Tour de Taiwan cycling race, the Dragon Boat Festival races, and the Fo Guang Cup, continuously practicing the spirit of the "Three Acts of Goodness" through a series of activities.

Li Kun-chong echoed Venerable Master Hsing Yun's "Three Acts of Goodness" spirit, encouraging athletes to embody the Six Paramitas—particularly precept-keeping and endurance—to achieve self-cultivation during the games.

Kao Chin-hsiung and Sunny Li encouraged players to challenge themselves in line with the "Three Acts of Goodness" spirit.

This year's 16 participating teams come from both Taiwan and abroad. The Women's Division features Fo Guang University, National Taiwan Normal University, Tohoku Gakuin University (Japan), Malaysia Selection Team, The University of Sydney (Australia), Macao Hou Chon, National University (Philippines), and York University (Canada).

The Men's Division includes National Chengchi University, University of Tsukuba (Japan), Malaysia Selection Team, Brian Kerle Basketball Academy (Australia), Macao Hou Chon, Guang Ming College (Philippines), Westmont College (USA), and Lincoln University (USA). With several teams making their debut, their strong capabilities will add intense excitement to the tournament.

The first four days of the event will feature group single-round-robin preliminaries, followed by the semifinals on August 1 and the championship finals on August 2. Free admission tickets are available for entry. Live broadcasts will be accessible on Beautiful Life Television (BLTV), and fans can also experience the charm of the exciting tournament online via the official Fo Guang Cup website, Instagram, and the Three Acts of Goodness Sports Association platforms.