BEYOND the methodical leagues across the country lies a vibrant, unstructured community of basketball enthusiasts, where pro players, college stars, social media personalities, and weekend warriors collide on random runs, showcasing raw talent, mutual respect, and a shared love for the game.

United By The Game (UBTG), founded by 22-year-old athlete and content creator Jasper Reyes, holds open-court sessions and scrimmages on a weekly basis, welcoming anyone with an interest in hoops.

Since its inception in late 2022, UBTG has attracted over a hundred signees, including pros and ex-pros like Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, and Jeff Chan, as well as overseas imports such as Kiefer Ravena, Rhenz Abando, and Kevin Quiambao.

College stars like Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, and Mason Amos, as well as social media personalities like Cong TV and Junnie Boy, have also participated, among others.

PHOTO: by: @bonworks_ & @dcdwine of UBTG

Other participants range in age from 12 to players in their 60s, allowing them the opportunity to meet and compete with their 'idols.'

While his initiative grew bigger than expected, Reyes is glad to have paved the way for any player’s dream to go head-to-head with stars they once only watched.

"As someone who grew up in basketball, I know how it feels to be a casual hooper or a casual basketball fan. It's always a dream to play with the people you only see on TV or watch from the bleachers," Reyes shared with SPIN.ph. "That's the 'Why' of UBTG. That's the reason why we do what we do."

It all started with an occasional papawis among players in Reyes' circle. Their routines, shared through social media, turned spur-of-the-moment games into a regular gatherings - and before they knew it, they had become a community.

“Dati, sa mga barangay courts lang, cement floors, tapos pinopost lang namin. Maraming sumasali, friends of friends. Then we continued to grow, started affording nicer locations, and tried our luck inviting college players. Jacob [Cortez] was among the first ones to say yes,” Reyes shared.

He added: “Actually, wala akong vision; it just happened. And it made me realize how powerful basketball is in the Philippines. This is our biggest motivation now.”

More than just players, UBTG has also opened opportunities for creatives in the sports industry, providing side hustles for photographers, videographers, commentators, and content creators.

It has also partnered with big names like Titan to organize occasional events.

“Napag-uusapan nga namin ng mga photographers, nung nagsimula kami, nag-offer lang sila ng service — shoot for their hobby — hanggang sa dito nila nahasa yung skills nila. Ngayon, they’re tapped by brands as well and partnered with big names,” Reyes said.

He continued: “Full circle, we bridged the gap, and we want to make the experience even better.”

Now in its third year, UBTG hopes to extend its efforts to overseas Filipino communities in the U.S. and Canada.

It’s also brewing a concept to make UBTG a ‘basketball ecosystem,’ as it looks to partner with the country’s best basketball trainers.

Interested applicants are encouraged to join their Facebook group, where most of their announcements are made.

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