PBA legend Benjie Paras (right) and WMPBL champion coach Paolo Layug will serve as commissioner and deputy commissioner, respectively in the Philippine Youth Basketball Championship, which aims to provide top-notch action with focus on details by combining tradition and analytics. The league’s inaugural season will run from August 2025 to June 2026. (Contributed photo)
A new chapter in Philippine grassroots basketball is about to begin.
The Philippine Youth Basketball Championship (PYBC) is set to launch this August, promising a fresh, high-energy platform that puts young talent front and center—powered not just by passion, but by performance data.
Slated to run until June 2026, PYBC is more than just a tournament. It’s a bold, stats-driven league crafted to nurture the next generation of Filipino basketball stars through a mix of tradition, technology, and top-level competition.
Two conferences, one goal: Player development
PYBC’s inaugural season will feature two conferences, with rotating age divisions under a single round-robin format. The first conference, running from August to October, highlights three age groups:
Under-11 (born 2014)
Under-13 (born 2012)
Under-15 (born 2010)
From there, it’s all-out competition: single-round eliminations, quarterfinals, knockout semifinals, and a best-of-three finals showdown—designed to test grit, growth, and game IQ.
Legends and leaders at the helm
PYBC brings serious credibility with PBA legend Benjie Paras as commissioner, WMPBL champion coach Paolo Layug as deputy commissioner, and Momentum PH founder Carl Villanueva as tournament director.
“We’re not just here to crown champions—we’re here to build them,” said Layug, who coached the Pilipinas Aguilas to the first WMPBL title.
He added, “What matters most with data and analytics is simplicity. It’s about helping players understand themselves, improve faster, and build smarter habits on and off the court.”
Where basketball meets innovation
PYBC is breaking ground as the first local youth league to fully integrate digital tools and advanced analytics from day one.
The program includes:
Halftime team performance breakdowns
Detailed post-game reports
Individual player evaluations
Tracking of strengths, weaknesses, and growth areas
Advanced performance metrics and player rankings
Even more game-changing? PYBC is adopting a player ranking system modeled after those used in the US and Europe—a first for Philippine youth hoops.
“Especially at the grassroots level, having reliable stats over time is vital,” said Layug. “It allows kids to see how far they’ve come and where they can go.”
A new era of youth hoops
The PYBC isn’t just another tournament—it’s the beginning of a movement. Aimed at providing top-tier competition, long-term player development, and real opportunities, it gives Filipino youth a clearer path to success—whether that’s in college ball, professional leagues, or beyond.
Get ready. The next wave of basketball stars is about to rise—and they’ll have the numbers to prove it.