YBL 2027 Registration Application
2026/2027
REGISTER FOR TRYOUTS
GRADES 3RD - 8TH
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT FOR aDIDAS JR 3SSB TEAMS?
PLEASE FILL OUT THE TRYOUT PLAYER FORM BELOW, AND THE TRYOUT DATE AND TIME WILL BE EMAILED DIRECTLY TO YOU.
TRYOUT LOCATION: NOTHING BUT NET GYM 570 WHITNEY ST, SAN LEANDRO, CA 94577
Supporting Athletics and Cultural Strategies
Just Us Basketball is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to harnessing the power of sports to inspire and unite communities. We believe that athletes and cultural expression are essential tools for building stronger neighborhoods, increasing civic engagement, and fostering positive social change.
Our long-standing commitment to youth sports and cultural programming is evident through our partnerships with generous donors and organizations that support the arts and community development in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. We understand that storytelling, arts, sports, and cultural practices are vital resources for survival, healing, and resistance. These creative and athletic expressions enhance community resilience and collective power while providing voice, agency, and visibility to communities most affected by systemic inequities.
Through basketball and cultural connection, we strive to create spaces where young people can grow, belong, and become leaders.
shop
The forecast said greatness.
· 100% cotton
· Fabric weight: 5.3 oz./yd.² (180 g/m²)
· Square, relaxed silhouette with a wide cut
· Dropped shoulders and wide sleeves
· Ribbed crew neck
· Double-needle topstitched hems
Some revolutions wear lavender.
• 95% cotton, 5% elastane
• Fabric weight: 8.85 oz./yd.² (300 g/m²)
• Heavyweight cotton-spandex blend with a medium soft feel
• Unisex fit
The game made me legendary.
· 80% organic combed ring-spun cotton, 20% recycled polyester
· Brushed 3-end fleece with a 100% organic cotton face
· Fabric weight: 15 oz./yd.² (500 g/m²)
· Double self-fabric-lined hood
· 100% cotton, elastane-free 1 × 1 rib at sleeve cuffs and bottom hem
· Twin-needle topstitching at hem, sleeve cuffs, and armholes
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 adidas 3STRIPES GOLD, JR 3SSB, MADE HOOPS, G365, AOG Events, Bigfoot, 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.
A Celebration of Culture, Community & Connection
Join us for the Just Us x Barkada Family Potluck — an evening dedicated to bringing our basketball families together to celebrate friendship, culture, and the incredible journey of our student-athletes.
Sports as a Pathway to Hope
In moments of challenge, sports call for imagination just as much as effort. Imagination allows us to see beyond past setbacks and present obstacles toward a stronger, more hopeful future for our youth and our communities.
What collective strategies, training spaces, and community partnerships will help build the inclusive, fair, and healthy East Bay we believe in?
To answer this, we turn to our athletes, coaches, mentors, and community leaders — the ones shaping the next generation through teamwork and discipline. Together, we are building new pathways, redefining what success looks like, unlocking untapped potential, and passing forward the lessons of resilience and perseverance. Through sport, we cultivate confidence, belonging, and the belief that a better future is possible.
Barkada + Just Us at Filipino Island Fest!
2026 JUST US & BARKADA PLAYER ESSAY CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT
Essay Contest Sponsored by Dr. Roderick Ballelos
More Than the Game: Inside the Minds of the Next Generation of Athletes
The Assignment: Thinking the Game
Athletes were invited to explore topics that most locker rooms don’t talk about—but every player feels:
Psychology + Sports
“The Effects of Coach Communication Styles on Athlete Confidence.”
Equity, Ethics & Controversy
“Are Year-Round Club Sports Harming Student Development?”
Burnout. Overtraining. Academic balance. Financial barriers. Identity pressure.
Culture & Society
“Winning Culture vs. Developmental Culture: Which Matters More?”
Is the goal trophies—or growth? Recruitment—or belonging?
Psychology + Performance
“Why Mental Health Training Should Be as Important as Physical Training.”
Confidence reps. Emotional regulation. Sports anxiety. Self-belief.
The Real Conversation
These weren’t just essays. They were windows.
Into how young athletes see the world.
Into what they carry on and off the court.
The questions they tackled weren’t easy:
What is the true cost of elite youth sports?
What does a player need more, wins or growth?
Where does confidence really come from, skill or voice?
When does effort cross the line into pressure?
Because basketball, at its core, is never just physical.
It’s psychological.
It’s emotional.
It’s cultural.
It shapes identity. It builds resilience.
And sometimes—it tests it.
Recognizing Reflection
To honor the depth of thought, insight, and maturity shown,
Dr. Roderick Ballelos awarded two athletes $150 each for outstanding work.
This year’s recipients:
🏆 Terrence Sison
🏆 Bailey Gella
Their reflections stood out—not just for what they said, but for how deeply they understood the game beyond the surface.
Both athletes will be featured in the upcoming Roots & Rims Newsletter, where their voices—and perspectives—will continue the conversation.
We are looking for advisory board members
Youth Basketball Advisory Council
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.
Help fund:
Practice Facilities
•
New Uniforms
•
Tournament Registration Fees
•
Scholarships
•
General Reserves and more
JUST US BASKETBALL PHILOSOPHY:
Hard Work Beats Talent.
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.
