Michael Sobrepeña: From Silent Supporter to Champion Coach
You might not notice him at a party. Off the court, Michael Sobrepeña is quiet, unassuming. But inside a gym, he’s electric — clapping, calling plays, locked into every drill with the intensity of someone who’s found his purpose. Michael didn’t start out as a coach. Just a proud dad cheering from the sidelines, watching […]
Ray Montaniel: From Scarborough Courts to a Nation-Building Mission
Coach Ray Montaniel knows what hunger looks like. Not the kind that skips breakfast — the kind that drives kids in the Philippines to play ball like their lives depend on it. Because for many, it does. Ray grew up in Scarborough, learning the game on local courts, playing for Mother Teresa High and the […]
Jaycelyn Valencia: From Sidelines to Center Court
Jaycelyn Valencia didn’t grow up chasing a basketball dream. At first, she was just a little sister tagging along — watching her brother play in Mississauga’s Filipino leagues while her dad coached from the sidelines. But something shifted. The more time she spent at those games, the more she felt pulled toward the court. It […]
Arthur Navasero: Beat the Odds, Ball Anyway
For Arthur Navasero, basketball isn’t just a game — it’s therapy, family, purpose. He grew up in love with the sport, drawn to the brotherhood, the competition, and the way the game could instantly lift his spirits, even on the hardest days. When his father passed away in 2020, Arthur made a promise: to chase […]
Jessyka Maliksi: All Heart, All Game
Basketball wasn’t just something Jessyka Maliksi picked up — it was part of her family rhythm. Her dad, her brother, the tournaments she tagged along to as a kid — it all built into something bigger. Something she never let go of. Like many young Filipino girls, Jessyka once juggled dance, piano, even singing lessons. […]
Asia Brown: No Pressure, Just Purpose
Asia Brown doesn’t just teach basketball. She teaches freedom. Her camps aren’t about stats or rankings. They’re about girls falling in love with the game — with no pressure. Because she remembers what it felt like to be the only girl in the program, starting at four years old. It was terrifying. And now, she’s […]
Karl Mariano: It’s Not Over Till It’s Over
Karl Mariano still remembers the feeling. Grade school, summertime, his first basketball camp. He was the youngest on the floor, playing alongside high schoolers, but none of that mattered. Every week, he showed up. The excitement never left. That same feeling lives in the kids he now coaches through Level Up Basketball, a grassroots camp he […]
Phil Ramirez: Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People Do
Phil Ramirez didn’t plan to be a trainer. It started with his little brother. Just two siblings in the gym, pushing each other, dreaming big. Phil had played college and university ball at a time when there weren’t many Filipinos on the court. That mattered to him. Representation mattered. So he trained hard, not just […]
AJ Mandani: Bigger Than Basketball
AJ Mandani has played the game at the highest levels. From college basketball in Missouri to pro leagues in Indonesia and Thailand, his journey was full of highs and lows. But after 14 years away, missing birthdays, holidays, and milestones, AJ found a new reason to come home. That reason was family. More specifically, his […]
Ali Nizam: From Pain to Purpose at Core Basketball
There’s a rhythm to Ali Nizam’s voice on the court (part coach, part motivator, part older brother). But behind the drills and instruction is a story rooted in adversity. Ali grew up facing brokenness, disappointment, and instability. The basketball court became more than a game. It was an escape, a space where he could release […]
