Members of the Filipino community on P.E.I. came together over the weekend to enjoy basketball at the Eastern P.E.I. Community Navigators’ second annual tournament.

The event welcomed three teams, with over 100 players and spectators showing up to Montague Regional High School on March 21. 

In addition to healthy competition, the event aims to provide a sense of community.  

“It’s a sport that we love in the Philippines,” said participant Glenn Oribe. “Every street has a basketball court.”

Oribe, who came to P.E.I. in 2019, said basketball can be a way to connect with others in the Filipino community as a newcomer through a shared love of the sport. He said events such as this build friendships on and off the court. 

“It’s good because you don’t want to be alone, left out in a new environment,” he said. 

“Being with somebody that plays sports with you and shares laughs and shares ball and also shares laughter and everything. […] It’s very, very important.” 

While the event was aimed at those in eastern parts of the Island, anyone was welcome to attend, with some players even traveling from Summerside to play. 

“It just depends on who the team captains know loves basketball,” said organizer Lindee Gallant in an email. 

Joey Birung said he gets a call from his teammates whenever there is a chance to play and he is happy to go anywhere on the Island.

“We’re willing to drive an hour or two to be there,” he said. 

The PINOY basketball tournament was born after a Community Navigators fiesta three years ago, which featured food and games with the Filipino community. 

“The feedback was fantastic, but they mentioned a gap they had in accessing gym time to play basketball,” said Gallant, adding that there will always be a need for basketball around Eastern P.E.I. and rural parts of the Island overall. 

“While the majority of people playing today were Filipino, basketball is a well loved global sport, so people from all over are interested in playing,” she said.