1st FYBA charity game opens in D.C.; proceeds to benefit foundation

Jordan Bartlett’s Team White defeated Team Blue led by Brandon Chauca, 120 to 98.

Jordan Bartlett’s Team White defeated Team Blue led by Brandon Chauca, 120 to 98.

The first Annual Filipino-American Youth Basketball Association (FYBA) Showcase Game was a high-scoring affair between teams comprised of the best FilAm basketball college and high school talent in the Metro Washington DC region.

The charity event, held in Alexandria, VA, raised over $1,500 for the P.U.S.O. (or Purposeful Unconditional Service to Others) Foundation, which provides aid and medical supplies to poor families in the Philippines.

Team White, led by Jordan Bartlett, formerly of National University in Manila, defeated University of California-Berkeley’s Brandon Chauca’s Team Blue 120 to 98. California Bear Chauca notched a double-double, scoring a game-high 37 points (including 7 three-pointers) and dishing out 12 assists while Bartlett paced Team White with 29 points and 9 dimes.

The game featured numerous FilAm talents, such as Ethan Satterwhite of Northern Virginia Community College’s NoVa Hawks, Andrew Singson of Rock Ridge High School, Bennie Howard Jr. of Grace Brethren Christian, Kalvin Bustamante of Briar Woods High School, Patrick Gutual of Falls Church High School. There are several other skilled players from the FYBA 24U team which recently won two Asian/Filipino basketball tournaments in New York and New Jersey, including Jeremy Conda of Virginia Commonwealth University, Angelo “Migi” Montalban of Marymount University, and Loren Johnson Jr.

The highlights of the Showcase included high-flying dunks by Singson and Justin Gray, along with numerous NBA-length three-point shots. The game itself was close throughout until Bartlett and Team White broke it open late in the second half. Star point guard Satterwhite and burly power forward Andre Deocampo each chipped in 16 points while the 6’5” Singson scored 15 points for Team White. For Team Blue, P.U.S.O. founder Robert Banez scored 14 points while the 6’4” Gray chipped in 12 points.

FYBA Showcase Champion Team White led by UAAP player Jordan Bartlett #22

FYBA Showcase Champion Team White led by UAAP player Jordan Bartlett #22

Brandon Chauca of FYBA Team Blue scored a game-high 37 points

Brandon Chauca of FYBA Team Blue scored a game-high 37 points

About the P.U.S.O. Foundation: What started as a simple idea to do mission work over an 18-day trip to the Philippines has transformed into a non-profit organization. Since May of 2017, P.U.S.O. founder Robert Banez and his father Bobby Banez and the entire P.U.S.O. family have been able to serve an estimated 3,000 lives by providing basic necessities consisting of medicine, vitamins, clothing, school supplies, small monetary donations for food, and most importantly, love and hope. For more information about the Foundation, check out https://www.facebook.com/thepusofoundation/

Founded 10 years ago, FYBA of Metro Washington D.C. is one of the largest and most successful Filipino basketball organizations in the United States, producing top college basketball talent such as Jordan Bartlett, Brandon Chauca of the University of California-Berkeley, and Quentin Millora-Brown, who recently committed to play for Rice University in Texas.

FYBA works with organizations in the community through its Youth Mentoring Program where the older FYBA youth will mentor the younger FYBA kids by training them with various skills. The FYBA Sports Philosophy is based on participation, fun, physical fitness and health, skill development, team work, fair play, family involvement and volunteer leadership. Among the officers are Marjorie Pavia, Cesar Conda, Todd Lancaster, Jun Tirso, Marie Charity Quiroz, and Hever Bascon Jr. Their children play in the FYBA.

© The FilAm 2018



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