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16 April 2026  4 min read

Filipino British Basketball Association continues to grow in North-East

The FBBA is also entering a transformative phase, with plans to expand to between 12 and 16 teams, and it’s always on the lookout for new players.

Based in the North-East of England, the FBBA is organised across four divisions: A Men’s Premier, an U21s league, a Rising Stars division for U16s, and a newly formalised mixed division for men and women.

The league has grown from its current six teams, and even more so from the four teams that launched following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of giving the large Filipino community a place to play their national sport.

"There is a massive gap in our community. Lots of people play basketball in this part of the country, which is the North-East, but not many Filipinos feel they can play too," said its founder, Teody Machan, who is also treasurer of Basketball England’s North-East region.

"This league allows players a platform to play and to give them a new opportunity. And so, basically our objective is to help our homegrown players get them settled into an environment they are comfortable with and hopefully get them to the other teams around the area too."

How the FBBA began

The league’s origins trace back to 2016, when Machan, originally from the southern Philippines, moved to the North East Region in December of that year.

Coming from a basketball-loving family where the sport runs deep, Teody initially envisioned giving back to communities from his home country in England.

"I had family that all played basketball; they all played at a high level," Machan explained. "In my country, basketball is part of our daily life, it’s in our culture, our blood."

However, after settling in North East England, to work in the National Health Service, he quickly identified a pressing need closer to home: A lack of structured basketball opportunities for Filipino players in the region.

Unlike London, where athletes from the Philippines benefit from a wide network of clubs, professional coaching, and established development systems, players in the North East often lacked that same access.

"Despite having comparable skill levels, many Filipino athletes found themselves at a disadvantage when pursuing pathways through basketball," Machan said.

"This disparity became the driving force behind the creation of the Filipino British Basketball Association and its league."

Structured intentionally as a league rather than a single club, the FBBA promotes inclusivity while maintaining a strong community focus.

It provides a family-friendly environment where players - primarily from Filipino backgrounds but open to all - can represent their communities, compete regularly, and gain visibility. The overarching aim is to bridge the gap between grassroots talent and professional opportunities.

"We’ve had a lot of interest and we are getting great numbers with everyone really enjoying themselves," beamed Machan.

The league serves as a central hub based in Stockton-on-Tees, with a catchment area spanning roughly an hour, including cities such as Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, and Leeds.

Notably, 80–90 percent of participants work within the NHS, including doctors, theatre staff, and other hospital workers. For many, the league is not only a competitive outlet but also a vital social and cultural connection.

"We even have our own dedicated NHS team, with players that work for the NHS based all across the North East," Machan said.

A landmark development for the 2025/26 season is the inclusion of women for the first time; fully integrated through the Mixed Division, marking a significant step toward inclusivity and growth.

Central to the league’s mission is its partnership with Basketball England North East, where Teody also serves as its Treasurer.

This connection is instrumental in creating pathways for players to hopefully progress with basketball and one day gain their own success.

Find out more and contact the FBBA

Words by John Hobbs

All image credits - FBBA