A band of young basketball players from the United Arab Emirates is heading to Cebu this July, ready to test itself against teams drawn from across the world.
The Young Vikings Basketball squad will represent Dubai at the Sinag Liga Asya (SLA) Junior World Showcase 2026, the Visayas Cup leg running from July 1 to 5 across several venues in Metro Cebu. The team is fielding two age categories, Under-15 and Under-17, in a tournament that brings together grassroots talents from the Philippines and abroad.
Founded in September 2022, the program was built around the idea of gathering young athletes through the game. Most of its players are Filipino, though the roster also includes members of other nationalities. “While most of our players are Filipinos, our team is also proud to have members from different nationalities, making our community diverse, united, and inclusive,” said head coach Jhay Yabut in an interview with TGFM.
All of the players are based in the UAE, where assembling a competitive team that can travel and compete abroad carries its own set of obstacles. Yabut pointed to financial considerations, player availability, and the demands of managing different age groups as ongoing challenges. The team trains every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with most weekends given over to games and competition.
Preparation for the Cebu trip began in March 2026. Since then, the coach said, the boys have worked to sharpen their physical conditioning alongside their mental toughness and emotional maturity. The 17U roster is made up of Stephen Jass Parico, Lebron Zoom Bedua, Arron Matthew Generoso, Chev Marx Ferrer, Ryan Miguel Fernandez, Jose Matteusz Magbitang, Siameo Cevian Villasis, Jude Lawrence Placer, Charles Henry Llandelar, and Kyle Pulgan. The 15U squad features Rain Andrei Nagares, Jude Lawrence Placer, Mikel Liam Sumera, Ethan Allen Ortiz, Iseo Nestor De Zen, Aeden Bajamunde, Lhance Arkin Balagtas, Roger Del Rosario, Evander Mangubat, and Tyrone Patterson.
Yabut said his players understand the weight of competing on an international stage. “These young athletes know the expectations that come with representing not only their team but also their families and the Filipino community in the UAE,” he said. “While the pressure is real, I am confident that my boys are ready for the challenge ahead.”
For Yabut, the team’s name points beyond the court. He described it as standing for brotherhood, family, respect, and unity, and said the relationships built within the program rank among its greatest achievements. The primary goal, he added, is to keep developing the skills, character, and confidence of the players while giving them a taste of high-level competition outside the UAE.
The Vikings travel to Cebu with a measured mindset. “As we head to Cebu, our mindset is simple: take it one game at a time,” Yabut said. “We will compete with heart, discipline, and determination. If it is God’s will, we hope to reach the finals and achieve something special.”
The competition is expected to be demanding, with squads arriving from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Philippines, each bringing a different basketball culture to the hardcourt. Admission to the games is free, with the public invited to watch across the tournament’s venues in Metro Cebu.
