• About

Just Us Basketball

At Just Us Basketball, we believe that the game serves as a powerful teacher. Every drill, every huddle, and every challenging moment provides an opportunity for growth—not just as athletes, but as individuals.

We are proud to compete on some of the highest grassroots platforms in the Bay Area, including JR 3SSB, G365, AOG Events, 4Ballers Only, Hoop121, and many more. However, what truly defines us isn’t just the logo on our jerseys—it’s the standard we uphold every day. We coach with purpose, develop with intention, and strive to build players the right way.

Our focus is on long-term development. We emphasize fundamentals, basketball IQ, toughness, and accountability. We value effort, coachability, and trust. While winning is important, it never comes at the expense of growth. Our ultimate goal is to prepare athletes for the next level and for life beyond the game.

  • Programs

Explore Our Programs

2026–27 Season Tryout Registration

At Just Us Basketball, we don’t chase comfort—we chase growth. Our athletes are tested against elite competition to raise their level, sharpen their habits, and learn how to compete the right way. We emphasize unselfish play, relentless effort, and competing on every possession. Most importantly, we teach players to understand that every role matters.

This program is built for athletes who want to work, learn, and be coached. If you’re hungry to improve, open to instruction, and ready to be held to a high standard, this is the place for you.

We are now opening tryouts for the 2026–27 season and are looking for athletes who are motivated to grow and ready to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Tryout Details

Date: January 16
Time: 6:00–7:00 PM
(Check-in at 5:30 PM)
Court: Court 2
Location: Nothing But Net Gym
San Leandro, CA

Tryout Fee: $20 (NEW PLAYER)

Come ready to compete.
Come prepared to listen.
Come ready to be coached.

This is more than a team.
This is work. This is growth.
This is Just Us.

Sign up - 2026–27 Season Tryout Registration

BARKADA X INFINITY - Central Chapter Sundays

Spring and Summer Series - Season 2026

At BARKADA, we bring Filipino-American youth together through basketball, culture, and community. This program is about more than learning the game—it’s about building identity, confidence, and leadership.

We are committed to developing young athletes who play with heart and lead with purpose. Our players are taught to compete, to respect the work, and to carry themselves with pride—on and off the court. We empower them to honor their roots, celebrate who they are, and represent their community the right way.

This is more than a team.
It’s a cultural legacy in motion.

Built by the community. For the community.

We play for something bigger—
for our families,
for our heritage,
for every Filipino kid who’s ever dreamed of more.

Barkada Central Tryouts (Tracy, CA)

Date: Sunday, February 1
Time: 1:00 PM

Location:
3502 Mars Way, Suite 101
Tracy, CA 95377

Tryout Fee: $15 (paid at the door)

All participants must complete tryout registration and waivers prior to stepping on the court.

Sign Up - TRYOUT BARKADA CENTRAL REGISTRATION

EVENT PARTNERS

We are dedicated to championing local tournaments in Alameda, Contra Costa, the Peninsula, and beyond, fostering community spirit and connecting players like never before. Join us in making these youth events a success!

Barkada Family Hoodie Barkada Family Hoodie Barkada Family Hoodie Barkada Family Hoodie Barkada Family Hoodie Barkada Family Hoodie Barkada Family Hoodie
Just Us Team Hoodie — Custom Player Name & Number
SHOP
Group of five young people posing together at an outdoor event, some wearing Philippines-themed shirts, under a tent with paper lanterns.

Barkada + Just Us at Filipino Island Fest!

Roots & Rims Newsletter

2026 JUST US & BARKADA PLAYER ESSAY CONTEST

Sponsored by Dr. Roderick Ballelos

This season, we’re giving our athletes more than reps and game film — we’re giving them a voice.

📝 Essay Topics (Players Choose 1)

Players can select one of the following:

1. Psychology + Sports
“The Effects of Coach Communication Styles on Athlete Confidence.”

2. Equity, Ethics & Controversy
“Are Year-Round Club Sports Harming Student Development?”
• burnout, over-training, identity pressure, academic balance, cost barriers

3. Culture & Society
“Winning Culture vs. Developmental Culture: Which Matters More?”
• Is the goal trophies? growth? recruitment? mental health? belonging?

4. Psychology + Performance
“Why Mental Health Training Should Be as Important as Physical Training.”
• confidence reps, sports therapy, emotional regulation, sports anxiety

💰 Awards:
Dr. Ballelos will award 3 athletes $100 each for outstanding reflection, maturity, and insight.

Because basketball isn’t just physical — it’s psychological, cultural, emotional, and developmental.

More than the score. More than the season.
This is who they become through the game.

📅 Dates
• Opens: January 15, 2026
• Deadline: February 10, 2026
• Winners Announced: February 23, 2026

📌 Submission Requirements
• 500–750 words
• Typed PDF or Google Doc

Submit Essay

We are looking for advisory board members

Youth Basketball Advisory Council

Learn more
Close-up of a basketball showing its textured orange surface with black lines.

PLAYFORWARD

By donating today, you are helping open doors for aspiring young basketball players who may not otherwise have the chance to pursue their dreams. Your generosity provides scholarships, access to training, and opportunities for growth that go far beyond the court. Together, we can empower the next generation of student-athletes to reach their full potential—both as players and as leaders in life. Thank you for believing in them.

PlayForward! Donate →

Help fund:

Practice Facilities
•
New Uniforms
•
Tournament Registration Fees

•
Scholarships

•
General Reserves and more

A man and a young girl standing in a basketball gymnasium. The man is wearing a red beanie and black clothing, with his arm around the girl. The girl is wearing a blue basketball uniform with the number 11 and holding a basketball. Both are looking at the camera.

JUST US BASKETBALL PHILOSOPHY:

Hard Work Beats Talent.

Learn more about Just Us Basketball Program →

Barkada Basketball: Roots. Rims. Legacy in Motion.

Photography by Albert Agbulos

At Barkada Basketball, the court is more than hardwood—it’s home.
It’s where Filipino-American youth lace up with purpose, carry their family names with pride, and step into a legacy bigger than themselves.

This gallery captures the heartbeat of our movement: the sweat, the laughter, the quiet confidence, the shared sacrifices, and the fire in every young athlete chasing a dream not just for themselves, but for their community.

Here, basketball becomes cultural storytelling.
Every sprint down the court echoes the journeys of our parents and grandparents.
Every huddle reflects the spirit of bayanihan—we rise together.
Every moment frozen in these frames honors identity, resilience, and belonging.

We don’t just compete.
We represent.
We carry our roots forward.
We play for something more—
for our families,
for our heritage,
for every Filipino who has ever dreamed beyond the boundaries of expectation.

This is barkada: brotherhood, sisterhood, community—built through the game and bound by culture.

Welcome to a visual story of pride, perseverance, and home.


A cultural legacy in motion.

Group of basketball players in black jerseys with colorful tribal patterns at a gym, surrounded by spectators.
Young boys playing basketball indoors, one in a red and black uniform and another in black, with a third boy observing in the background.
Young basketball players in red jerseys on an indoor court during a game, with a scoreboard showing 53 to 32 and 12:20 remaining.
Two basketball players jump to reach the ball at the tip-off, with a referee observing and the game clock showing 17:47.
Children playing basketball on an indoor court with walls made of concrete.
Young basketball players wearing black jerseys and shorts with orange and red tribal patterns, practicing on indoor basketball court.
A basketball player in a red and black uniform jumping to make a shot during a game in an indoor gym, with spectators sitting on bleachers in the background.
A basketball coach talks to players sitting on a bench during a game.
A young basketball player is hanging from a basketball hoop after making a dunk in an indoor gym with wooden bleachers and spectators watching.
A youth basketball team dressed in black uniforms with colorful designs on the sides, sitting on a wooden bench during a game break, with coaches and spectators nearby.
Two basketball players compete for the ball during a game in an indoor gymnasium, with one player jumping and reaching for the ball and the other trying to block the shot.
Young basketball players compete in a game with a player dribbling the ball as others defend.
A group of young male basketball players on an indoor court exchanging handshakes, some wearing black and others in white uniforms.
Young male basketball players in black and white jerseys compete for the ball on an indoor court.
Two young male basketball players in black jerseys standing on an indoor basketball court, preparing for practice or a game, with other players in the background.
Basketball team wearing black uniforms with colorful tribal patterns, standing on the sideline during a game, with spectators seated behind them.
A female basketball player jumps to score a basket near the hoop in an indoor gym.
A basketball game in progress with a player from Barkada team jumping to shoot while a Spartan team player blocks the shot. An referee stands in the background watching the action.
Basketball players in black uniforms with orange and white details, standing together on the court, listening to coach or teammate, inside sports facility with orange floor and red wall.
A youth basketball team in black jerseys with red and orange trim huddle together on the court, listening to their coach, who is in a beige shirt and baseball cap, giving instructions.
Two young boys playing basketball on an indoor court, with a referee watching in the background.
Young basketball player in a red and black jersey shooting a shot in an indoor gym, while two other players and a referee observe.
A group of young basketball players on an indoor court, some standing and some in motion, practicing shots; a girl sitting on a bench against a gray wall on the right side, with a scoreboard above showing zero points.
Young male basketball player in red jersey, during a game, looking focused on the court.
A young female basketball player in black and yellow jersey dribbling a basketball on an indoor court with a red wall background.