An all-Filipino team assembled in just two to three weeks went toe-to-toe with bigger, import-laden lineups at the inaugural UAE Communities Basketball Championship (UCBC), advancing past a tough group stage before bowing out in the knockout round — and leaving organizers impressed by one of the loudest, largest fan bases in the competition.
Launched under the patronage of the Ministry of Sports and organized by the UAE Committee for Talent and Sports Support (UAETSS) in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, the UAE Basketball Association, and Champs Sports Club, the UCBC ran from May 15 to June 12 at the Champs courts in Dubai. The tournament gathered 12 teams representing the UAE’s diverse communities, with a total prize pool of up to AED 130,000 — AED 50,000 of it set aside as audience prizes in support of the “Year of the Family” initiative.
Team Philippines was drawn into a demanding Group A alongside Palestine, Egypt, and Turkey.
Built by Filipinos, for Filipinos
The team’s formation began with a phone call. Organizers from the Ministry of Sports and Champs Sports Academy reached out to Brian Anthony L. Blanco — owner of Epparel, a UAE-based custom sports apparel company operating since 2017 — to produce the tournament uniforms and put together a team to represent the Filipino community.
“I immediately accepted the challenge,” Blanco shared with TGFM.
He brought in respected Filipino coach Jhay Yabut to lead the squad as head coach, backed by assistant coaches Dhanzkie Elduayan, Jeremy De Jesus, and Jaja Leonardo. But with the tournament set to tip off within two to three weeks, there was no time for formal tryouts. Instead, the coaching staff handpicked players based on skill, attitude, character, and availability.
The result was a roster drawn from across the Filipino community in the UAE — many of them coaches from various sports academies, others hardworking OFWs from different industries, all sharing a passion for the game.
Underdogs in a field of imports
“Going into the tournament, we were considered one of the underdogs,” Blanco said. Most teams fielded bigger lineups stacked with import players; only the Philippines and Turkey competed with locally assembled squads.
The opening game against Palestine was a tight contest. Team Philippines stayed within striking distance through three quarters before faltering in the final period and falling short.
The squad bounced back against Turkey, leaning on its identity — speed, stamina, and relentless pressure. A full-court press applied throughout the game delivered a convincing win.
That set up a do-or-die clash with Egypt, with a quarterfinal berth on the line. Neither side gave an inch.
“In the end, our puso — our heart and fighting spirit — made the difference,” Blanco said. Team Philippines escaped with a dramatic one-point victory to claim second place in the group and a spot in the next round.
The run ended against Lebanon in the knockout stage.
“While we were disappointed to be eliminated, we left the tournament proud of what we accomplished, especially because we competed with an all-Filipino roster,” Blanco said.
A home court away from home
If the scoreboard didn’t always favor them, the stands did.
“Every time Team Philippines played, it felt like we were playing on our home court,” Blanco said. The Filipino community turned out in force, filling the seats and lifting the players through every game.
According to Blanco, the team had one of the largest and most passionate fan bases in the entire competition — and the organizers took notice, seeing firsthand how deeply Filipinos love basketball and how tightly the community rallies behind its own.
“Our fans played a huge role in our success, and we are truly grateful for their unwavering support,” he said.
Bigger than basketball
For Blanco, the invitation alone was a win. Being one of 12 communities chosen to represent their nation in a UAE-wide event carried a weight that went beyond results.
“In many ways, it felt like we were experiencing a small piece of the Gilas Pilipinas spirit — we were playing not only for ourselves, but for our flag and our community,” he said.
The tournament gave players a chance to test themselves against some of the best basketball talent in the UAE while putting the strength of the Filipino community on display through unity, patriotism, and sportsmanship.
Stronger next year
Team Philippines is already looking ahead, hoping for another invitation and more preparation time to make a deeper run.
As for the question every underdog eventually faces — whether to recruit imports of their own next year — Blanco left the door open with a smile.
“Well… maybe! But for now, we’re proud that this team was built by Filipinos, for Filipinos, and represented the community with honor.”
