Two squads from Parkers Basketball Academy will fly the flag for Abu Dhabi at the World Youth Championship (WYC) 2026, the premier international youth basketball tournament running August 6 to 9 in Singapore.
The Abu Dhabi–based academy is sending its U14 and U16 teams to compete against elite clubs drawn from 14 nations across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and North America.
“The WYC is the perfect venue to compete given its reputation as a premier international tournament,” said Team Manager Maribeth Fideli Mendoza in an exclusive interview with TGFM. “We felt that our U14 and U16 teams are ready to take on the challenge and, of course, given the geopolitical situation in the region, to showcase the peaceful and beautiful city of Abu Dhabi.”
According to Mendoza, the decision to travel drew immediate backing from families. “The moment that we had informed our kids and their parents that we will be joining an international tournament in Singapore, it was an outright go,” she said. “It takes a lot of preparations to bring teams to compete out of the country in terms of travel and logistics, but we are very lucky to have very supportive parents within the community who are in full support of the passion and love for the game of their kids.”
For Head Coach and Program Director Romick Mendoza, the value of the trip extends past the scoreline. The academy says the tournament will gather roughly 140 teams from the 14 participating countries.
“The experience in itself to play against elite teams at the international level will be our biggest takeaway,” Coach Romick said. “Of course, we will play to win every single game, but more than the wins, the connection between the teams from around the world and the cultural exchange will be beneficial for the personal growth of our kids. The lessons and learnings are beyond the court.”
Preparation has centered on endurance and repetition, with an eye on the demands of a compressed schedule that often forces teams to play several games in a single day.
“We have been training continuously, with focus on conditioning, consistent work on skills and fundamentals,” Coach Romick said. “Tournaments like this are quite short, so teams play several games per day. Factors like weather also play a part. But with the team’s commitment and dedication, we are ready to play.”
Parkers is one of a handful of UAE clubs entered in this year’s edition. For the academy, the trip carries a weight that goes beyond results.
“It means a lot for Parkers as an academy, as a community,” Coach Romick said. “We come to Singapore and bring with us intense cultural pride. We also would like to show our amazing young basketball talents in Abu Dhabi, the great potential of basketball in this city, and how much basketball has grown in the UAE.”
