06/10/2026
FBL Courtside
Friday night, around 8:30 PM, the covered basketball court in Napocor Village, Tandang Sora, was already glowing from afar.
As you enter the facility, families line the sidelines, while the voices of coaches echo across the court. In the middle of it all, Team Unicorn is hard at work.
Known for their gritty style of basketball, Unicorn Basketball Club was deep into training for the upcoming season. The intensity was unmistakable much like the way they play in tournaments. There was energy in every drill, every defensive rotation, and every possession. But beyond the intensity, there was something else that stood out: the culture.
You could feel it on the court, and you couldn’t help but smile while watching them work.
We asked Coach Allen of Unicorn Basketball 15U Developmental what he expects from his team this coming season.
“Ay, ang ineexpect ko is that they will work hard, and they will improve themselves and mag-gain sila ng confidence each game, and they will learn a lot every game.”
That mindset is consistent with what Unicorn has shown over the years.
They have built their identity around hard work, particularly on the defensive end, competing, learning, and playing with confidence. Their approach has always been about showing up, doing the work, and making themselves better every time they step on the court.
Under Coach Allen’s time with the program, Unicorn has already won five championships. Interestingly, however, he was not yet the head coach for any of those titles. He had always been part of the coaching staff as an assistant.
This season marks a new chapter for him as he takes the helm of the Unicorn 15U Developmental team for the first time.
And while championships are certainly something he would welcome, his priority remains clear: player development.
“Sa goal namin dito is more on development ng mga players, mas magiging masaya po ako if the players develop, specially in confidence wise.”
But development does not mean taking competition lightly.
Unicorn will still step onto the floor with the same competitive mindset that has defined the program.
“Of course, yan ang turo namin sa mga bata, still compete, makipag-compete palagi.”
One of those players is 14-year-old Matteo Lacsa, who will play up this season with the Unicorn 15U Developmental team.
For Matteo, Unicorn has been more than just a basketball team. It has helped shape the way he approaches the game and himself.
“Si Unicorn po nag-shape po sa akin basketball career sa pag-work hard and maging confident sa court, maging disiplinado po in and out of the court, tinuruan din po nila ako mag-rebound mabuti at magdepensa at yun po ang matutulong ko this season.”
Now, with Coach Allen leading the team for the first time, there is a new opportunity in front of Unicorn.
Five championships already stand in the program’s history but none of them belong to Coach Allen as a head coach.
So, when asked if he is looking forward to winning one of his own, his answer was simple:
“Kung mag-champion, why not?”
It could be his first.
And perhaps, the beginning of many more.
Watch out for Unicorn Basketball Club this coming FBL Season 1 — The Rebirth.
