University of the Philippines Los Baños’s (UPLB) Nexus team has secured the national title at the HSBC Philippines Business Case Competition, earning a spot to represent the country at the upcoming global finals in Hong Kong.

The Nexus squad outperformed dozens of rivals to clinch the top prize, which includes a slot in the prestigious HSBC/HKU Asia Pacific Business Case Competition scheduled for June. University of the Philippines Tacloban’s Eastern Disruptors placed second, while the Sidhaya team from Miriam College rounded out the top three. Individual honors were also awarded to Jacqueline Marie S. Posadas of the Nexus team, who was named Best Presenter for her performance during the high-stakes final round.

The competition, organized by HSBC Philippines and youth-led leadership organization AIESEC in the Philippines, drew participation from 23 teams representing leading academic institutions nationwide. The tournament began with a virtual preliminary phase that winnowed the field to 12 finalists for a face-to-face showdown. In a test designed to mimic the intensity of real-world corporate strategy, the final-round students were given an unpublished business case and restricted to a three-hour window to analyze the data, formulate a strategic solution, and prepare a complete presentation for a panel of judges.

“AIESEC is a platform that stands for our belief to empower young people through leadership development,” said Kiana Palacios, president of AIESEC in the Philippines. She noted that the competition served as a testament to the ability to bring diverse youth together from across the country to solve complex problems.

The victory means UPLB will now compete on the world stage in Hong Kong against winners from 24 other universities globally. The event provides a platform for top-tier business students to display their analytical acumen before international industry veterans.

HSBC Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Sandeep Uppal emphasized the bank's commitment to nurturing domestic talent as part of its strategy in an expanding market. “We see this competition not just as a way to engage young talent, but also to support the development of future business leaders by providing a meaningful experience,” Uppal said.

He noted that the case studies are specifically designed to push students beyond theoretical knowledge, challenging their creativity and communication skills. These attributes, he added, remain the critical pillars of strong business leadership in an increasingly volatile global economy.