What began as a near-cancelled overseas trip turned into a clean sweep for Grind Basketball Dubai, after its youth teams claimed top honors across three age groups at a Qatar-based tournament held in Doha on January 16 and 17, 2026.
The Dubai grassroots program sent teams in the Under-11, Under-13, and Under-15 categories to compete in a short-format international tournament branded as the Global Basketball Academy League and sponsored by PIBAQ. All three squads finished the event as title holders, with multiple players earning individual citations.
The campaign unfolded under unusually tight constraints. Preparations were compressed into less than two weeks after an earlier December schedule was pushed back, leaving organizers to process visas, secure travel clearances for minors flying without parents, arrange group flights, and finalize accommodations in a narrow window. Several players were ultimately unable to travel due to pending documentation, shrinking available lineups just days before departure.
In the Under-11 division for players born in 2014 and younger, Grind Basketball Dubai fielded a six-man roster and still emerged as first-place finishers despite playing multiple games in a single day. The team featured Admiral De Leon, with Elijah Sapico, Gavin Arenas, Johann Sapico, and Kean earning spots in the tournament’s Mythical Five, alongside teammate Evo Punzalan.
The Under-13 squad, composed largely of players developed within the Grind program, delivered a championship run anchored by Sanric Culiat, who was named Most Valuable Player. Calvin Mendoza and Gab Ocampo were included in the Mythical Five, supported by teammates Amir Alakis, MarcDonn Villanueva, Nate Maluya, Nathan Evangelista, Sam Al Saleh, Vaughnn Escuadro, and Vier Enopia. The team acknowledged collaborative support from Mowen Basketball Abu Dhabi and DSA Team during the build-up.
Grind’s Under-15 team was assembled last, with less than a week of preparation before travel, yet still secured first place in its division. The lineup featured Miah Enriquez, Tremaine Villar, Jacob Mariano, Ryle Ancheta, Yan Likiyan, Clemson Fuentes, MarcDonn Villanueva, and Cian O’niell, with Vier Enopia and Sanric Culiat again earning Mythical Five recognition.
