Brothers from the Philippines proud as their Saskatoon basketball club grows

Shooting hoops is a family-business for three Saskatoon brothers. But Kevin, Sergei and Vince Caburaldon't only share the love for the sport they also have a passion forpassing their skills on to the next generation.

When thebrothers, who are originally from the Philippines,started the SaskHoops Elite Basketball club, theirinitial idea was to help kids from the Filipino community in Saskatoon.

The club has since grown a lot and now welcomes young players of all backgrounds.

"Now we're getting more interestfrom other nations as well. And we are very thankful for all of them. Because if not for them, we wouldn't have this basketball club right now," saidSergei.

According to Kevin, he and his brother Vince started their first training camp in Saskatoon in December 2018, before Sergei joined them from the Philippines. The club officially becameSaskHoops Elite Basketballin 2022. At the beginning, they had 17 to 20 kids training under them.

The most kids they had in the clubwas in 2023, with 180, according to Kevin. Watching the club balloon in size has been a joy for the brothers.

"Ever since we were young, we really loved everything about basketball. Whether you're playing or you're teaching, we love it," said Sergei.

Hesaid that in the Philippines basketball is "everything" and "everywhere." In fact, he said, people there are playing basketball in nearly every alley. You could say it's a way of life.

"Watching the professional basketball inthe Philippines, that's where I grew the love forplaying basketball," Sergei said.

He and his brothers were not expecting the club to be so popular. Sergeisaid they're thankful for what they have every day.

"Having parents trust us [with] their kidsto train them, it's just really a a big opportunity for us. Especially doing it with my brothers, it's really special."

Sask. Filipino brothers passing passion for basketball on to next generation

1 month ago

Duration 2:44

Shooting hoops is a family business for Saskatoon's Cabural brothers. They started SaskHoops Elite Basketball a few years ago. They are originally from the Philippines, so the initial idea was to help kids from the Filipino community in Saskatoon, but the club has grown and now welcomes young players of all backgrounds.

Sergei said his dream is to see one of the kids he coaches play for Team Canada one day.

SaskHoops Elite Basketball coaches children up to 17 years old.Vinceteaches the beginners, which typically begin playing at age five.

"They're pretty fun and straightforward.It's basic dribbling, basic passing, basic shooting. So it's easier to teach them," Vince said.

The brother said they have players, like one who joinedat age 10 and still plays on the teams today, who make him particularly proud.

"Just to see him progress and improve with all his skills and everything, and know you were part of [that] progressit just gives you all the happiness. Just thinking about it makes me happy," said Vince.

Kevin said that when he and his brothers arrived in Saskatchewan, they had no idea how popular basketball was. That's when they got the idea to organize training camps.

Most of the players selected for SaskHoops' five teams come from their training camps. Those teams competed all across Saskatchewan and Alberta during2024, according to Kevin.

Kevin has always dreamed of playing professional basketball, but said it "didn't end up like that."

"So right now I want the other kidsthose kids who havebeen dreaming to play basketballto be in the position I didn't [get to].So whatever I've experienced playing basketball, I want toshare it with them and help them to achieve their dreams."