AbstractSports tourism is an emerging segment of the tourism industry, yet limited research in the Philippines explores the motivations of student-athletes in national sports events. This study examined athletes from De La Salle University–Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) who joined the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games from 2019 to 2025, focusing on their personal and social reasons for participation. Guided by the concept of motivation, the research analyzed how these factors influence athlete involvement in sports tourism. A quantitative descriptive design was employed. Using purposive sampling, 127 respondents completed a structured adaptive survey via Google Forms. The questionnaire was validated by three experts and tested for reliability through Cronbach’s alpha. Data were analyzed using weighted mean, standard deviation, and Spearman’s correlation. Results revealed that DLSU-D athletes were highly motivated to participate in the PRISAA National Games. Among personal motivations, self-enhancement ranked highest, while social bonding was the strongest social motivation. The study concluded that student-athletes view the PRISAA National Games as sports tourism opportunities for personal and social growth. Findings suggest that national sports events can promote tourism and support youth development in the Philippines.AbstrakPariwisata olahraga merupakan segmen yang terus berkembang dalam industri pariwisata, namun penelitian mengenai motivasi mahasiswa-atlet dalam mengikuti ajang olahraga nasional di Filipina masih terbatas. Studi ini meneliti motivasi atlet De La Salle University–Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) yang berpartisipasi dalam Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games dari 2019 hingga 2025. Penelitian berfokus pada alasan personal dan sosial yang mendorong keterlibatan mereka dalam pariwisata olahraga.Menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif deskriptif, sebanyak 127 responden dipilih melalui purposive sampling dan mengisi survei adaptif terstruktur via Google Forms. Instrumen divalidasi oleh tiga ahli dan diuji reliabilitasnya menggunakan Cronbach’s alpha. Analisis data dilakukan melalui nilai rata-rata tertimbang, simpangan baku, dan korelasi Spearman. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa atlet DLSU-D sangat termotivasi untuk mengikuti PRISAA National Games. Di antara motivasi personal, peningkatan diri menjadi faktor paling dominan, sementara pada motivasi sosial, pembentukan ikatan sosial merupakan pendorong terbesar. Studi ini menyimpulkan bahwa mahasiswa-atlet memandang PRISAA National Games sebagai bentuk pariwisata olahraga yang mendukung pengembangan personal dan sosial. Temuan ini menegaskan bahwa ajang olahraga nasional dapat berkontribusi pada promosi pariwisata sekaligus mendukung pembangunan generasi muda di Filipina.