Beyond the Court: UPMBT players show their “Top Love & Care” in TopBreed’s latest community initiative

The UP Men’s Basketball Team, alongside the UP Emotional Support Animals and the Universal Robina Corporation TopBreed team, cap off its Top Love & Care activity with a fun group  photo

The University of the Philippines Men's Basketball Team (UPMBT) demonstrated that their strength extends far beyond the court as they participated in TopBreed's Top Love & Care Day, a touching community project focused on bonding with UP Emotional Support Animals (UP ESAs).

In a heartfelt demonstration of warmth and compassion, the crew spent the day learning about pet welfare, soothing rescue animals, and sharing moments of pure joy with the pets that provide psychosocial support to students and staff around campus. The event, hosted by Universal Robina Corporation's (URC) pet care brand TopBreed, demonstrated how true compassion can strengthen a community and athletes can inspire it.

UPMBT members joyfully play around with UP ESA’s dogs at the Sunken Garden.

The UP ESAs, founded in 2019 and supported by volunteer groups such as Friends of Campus Animals–UP (FOCA UP), play a vital role in alleviating stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue among students and faculty. Through training, medical care, and frequent engagement activities, these animals bring comfort to the campus community, making the players’ visit all the more meaningful.

UPMBT Shares Love, Care, and Connection

The UP MBT members enjoyed carrying the ESA pets around.

For UP ESA member Christian Arranz, the day was a reminder of how much joy the ESAs bring to the university.

“Our ESAs have helped spread top love and care in our university with their cuteness and unconditional love for every single person here — students, faculty members, and staffers —  by just being there and being available for petting every single time.” ~Christian Arranz, UP ESA Member

Meanwhile, guard and team captain Gerry Abadiano stressed how much the team benefits from such moments, particularly in the midst of hectic training schedules. It was a well-deserved vacation from training, as well as an opportunity to give back to the dogs who have helped their community cope with stress and worry. For UPMBT’s LA Andres, who is a fur parent himself, the event felt especially personal.

“Kahit mainit and umulan, nakakawala sila ng pagod at nawawala yung mga stress namin. Para sa akin, deserve nila ng mas marami pang time tulad nito, for us to bond and play with them. They definitely deserve the top nutrition we can give.” ~LA Andres, UPMBT Member

TopBreed Reaffirms Its Promise of “Top Love & Care”

TopBreed continues to promote pet health and well-being through nutrition, wellness, and advocacy projects such as this one. By bringing the UPMBT closer to the ESAs, the brand demonstrates its dedication to raising pet care standards while also cultivating a community based on empathy, care, and connection.

The day's activities reflected TopBreed's brand promise to provide every pet with the “Top Love & Care” they deserve, including correct nourishment and meaningful human interaction.

A Community Strengthened by Care

Throughout the event, the smiles of student volunteers, ESA caregivers, and athletes reflected what the UP community has long understood: that love, compassion, and care, whether on four or two legs, can have a long-term good influence.

TopBreed's collaboration with the UP ESAs continues to pave the way for additional programs that promote responsible pet care, emotional support awareness, and community well-being. 

TopBreed encourages more Filipinos to join its quest to provide every pet with the love and care they deserve.

Watch the TopBreed and UPMBT video HERE, and stay tuned for future efforts to learn how you, too, can contribute to a healthier, happier environment for pets and the people who love them.

Universal Robina Corporation (URC) produces iconic brands such as Jack ‘n Jill Piattos, Cloud 9, Maxx candy, Cream-O, Payless, C2 Cool and Clean, and Great Taste coffee, which have been part of Filipinos’ lives for decades. TopBreed, URC’s pet care brand under its Agro-Industrial Group, offers high quality and top-value products including TopBreed dog and cat meals, Top Care Cat Litter, ShamPooch dog shampoo, and TopB+ pet vitamins. To learn more about URC, visit its Website, Facebook Page and TikTok Account.

How the UP men's football team expresses their love for their happy and healthy dogs

UP Men’s Football Team (UPMFT) makes sure their furbabies are in the best shape with the help of their trusted pet care product, TopBreed

On a bright Monday morning, the UP Men's Football Team (UPMFT) gathered in the dugout to eat breakfast and catch up with their teammates as they planned a fun day ahead.  Instead of their usual drills, they're wearing uniforms and playing football with dogs on the field.

It's a change of pace for a group that trains nearly every day while also pursuing their studies.  It is expected of the former UAAP football champions.  But this time, they're bonding over their shared love of dogs, taking turns assisting their teammates in watching over them.

UPMFT's pet parents understand what it's like to come home to a happy dog after a long day of training and schooling.  When their teammates meet the dogs, they get to experience the same positive energy.  Furthermore, thanks to the team's partnership with pet care brand TopBreed, student-athletes can feed their pets high-quality food.

For former UAAP football champs and loving pet parents, UP Men’s Football Team (UPMFT), TopBreed is a reliable and trustworthy brand for their dogs and puppies

Finding comfort in dogs

Football, like any other sport, can be physically demanding.  The pressure to represent one's university can also exacerbate the challenge.  So, it's critical for UPMFT student athletes to find their zen, and one way they can do so is by spending time with their dogs.

“All of our dogs are always happy when we come home. I hug all of them.” ~Jared Florendo, Defender

Defender Jared Florendo has six dogs, all of whom are “malambing.”

UP Men’s Football Team’s (UPMFT) Joed Pleños with his fur baby, Coco

“They’re just always there when you need them. TopBreed is a reliable and trustworthy brand. Our dogs gained weight when we started feeding them TopBreed. We also saw that they’re happier and have more energy to play” ~Ken Saludez, Winger and defender

 

Dogs can also help people get out of the house more, especially if they need to relax after assignments and training.  This is what winger and defender Ken Saludez does with his three dogs: Coco the Shih Tzu, Churro the Mini Poodle, and Cola the Labrador.  He explains that walking and bathing dogs are family activities for them, emphasizing that this is how they bond on weekends. 

“My brothers and I are all athletes, so we love playing with Bigol whenever we’re home. I remember that I cried while studying and Bigol comforted me. I just hugged him until I was able to fall asleep.” ~Florenz Tacardon, Forward

More importantly, dogs can provide comfort to their owners, giving a calm presence when things become too overwhelming. For forward Florenz Tacardon and his brothers, their Beagle named Bigol’s “kulit” personality always perks them up when they’re tired. 

He also shares how Bigol became a source of comfort when a close teammate passed away two years ago.

Forward Josh Garces, who’s originally from Cebu, says he misses being able to talk to his dogs, Twix the Shih Tzu and Tisoy the Pug, when he needs someone to vent to “even though they don’t answer.”

UP Men’s Football Team (UPMFT) makes sure their furbabies are in the best shape with the help of their trusted pet care product, TopBreed

High-quality products for the best dogs

Dogs have an unrivalled capacity for love.  Although pets and playtime are often sufficient rewards, it is even better to provide them with high-quality dog food that provides overall nutrition, such as TopBreed Dog Food for Adult and Puppy.

All of the UPMFT players report that their previously picky dogs instantly adored TopBreed.  They noticed that their dogs looked healthier and were more active.  

“I sent over bags of TopBreed back home in Cebu. Whenever my parents send me photos of our dogs, I can see that they look healthy.” ~Josh Garces, Forward

Every great student-athlete is supported by loving family members and affectionate dogs who will never leave their side.  As the UPMFT players discovered, sometimes all they need to get by in their spare time is the playful nature of dogs - and TopBreed helps keep the furbabies in top condition.

TopBreed, a high-quality kibble for adult dogs and puppies, is from food manufacturing giant, Universal Robina Corporation (URC). The pet care brand recently earned the “Brand of the Year Award in the Dry Kibble Category” from the World Branding Awards in London. TopBreed products are available in select supermarkets nationwide, and via online stores.
 
To learn more about the TopBreed, visit its Instagram, Facebook and TikTok accounts.