The covered court of Barangay Cuyambay erupted with cheers as Toby’s Youth Sports Foundation, in partnership with Toby’s Sports, rolled out free grassroots basketball and pickleball clinics for pupils of Cuyambay Elementary School. The half-day outreach introduced young Tanayeños to two dynamic sports while showing how play can nurture teamwork, confidence, and lifelong healthy habits.
A Double-Header of Discovery
Basketball is already a neighborhood staple, but pickleball—a paddle sport that blends badminton, tennis, and table tennis—remains a novelty in many Philippine communities. Guided by professional pickleball coach Mark Casal and Toby’s Sports e-commerce head Luis Angelo Claudio, curious students quickly mastered forehand dinks and backhand drives, sending wiffle balls zipping across the net. Volunteer coaches kept the hoops session lively with dribbling drills, layups, and mini scrimmages that had kids laughing from buzzer to buzzer.
“We’re Building More Than Athletes”
After the final whistle, Toby’s Sports president Toby Claudio presented the school with brand-new basketballs, pickleball paddles, nets, and other gear.
— Toby Claudio, President, Toby’s Sports
Marketing and customer experience head Andrea Tan echoed his sentiment:
Long-Term Impact for Barangay Cuyambay
- Physical health boost: Regular access to engaging, skill-based play encourages daily movement and reduces sedentary time.
- Confidence & life skills: Mastering new drills teaches perseverance, communication, and goal-setting that translate beyond the court.
- Community connection: Shared games bring students, teachers, and volunteers together, strengthening local bonds and school spirit.
- Sustained opportunities: Donated equipment empowers PE instructors to keep both sports in the curriculum year-round.
Growing Grassroots Sports, One Barangay at a Time
The clinic is part of the foundation’s nationwide push to make sports participation accessible in underserved areas. Future stops will replicate the Tanay model—pairing hands-on instruction with equipment grants—to cultivate a generation that sees physical activity not as a privilege, but a right.
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