Angel Martinez, founder of the Winnipeg Athletic Association for Youth (WAAY) spoke at the opening ceremonies to kick off the 20th year of the youth basketball league last month at Gordon Bell. The WAAY league was born out of the need to develop a league for the Filipino community youth to come together as basketball league. The WAAY Basketball League has continued to grow and develop basketball players and promote team sports and skills for all kids going through the program.
Former WAAY player, Raizel Guinto currently plays with the Sisler Spartans and featured in the last issue of the Filipino Journal for signing with NCAA Division 1 Louisiana Tech was honoured with the first WAAY alumni award during the opening ceremonies.
MTS, Ice Time Sports and the Filipino Journal continued with their league sponsorship for the 2016-2017 season.
The Winnipeg Athletic Association for Youth (WAAY), is the first Filipino youth basketball league in Winnipeg, which evolves boys and girls from 6 to 16 years of age. WAAY was formed by parents and interested members of the community. The Association began in the fall of of 1997. In 1999, WAAY had 120 registered participants which formed 12 teams. WAAY salutes all parents, guardians and volunteers of the community for being united for the sake of our children’s love in the game of basketball.
For more information about WAAY, visit their website – www.waay.ca
Photos by Krypton Enerio, Bryan Mesias, Star Roxas, Alfred Gaddi and Ron Cantiveros | Filipino Journal
