Manila— Athletes Unrivaled (AU), a high-performance basketball academy based in the Philippines, has been officially invited to compete in the Summer Jam 2026 Championships Presented by Jordan Brand and Footlocker, set for February 20–22, 2026 at the Peanut Farm Reserve in St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia.
Many consider the Summer Jam Championships Presented by Jordan Brand and Footlocker to be Australia’s premier streetball festival, a three-day convergence of elite competition, basketball culture, music, fashion, and community staged on the iconic outdoor courts of St Kilda.
The event’s profile has attracted global basketball and entertainment figures. In 2025, Grammy Award–winning global music artist Drake and former NBA guard Lance Stephenson, known for his tenure with the Indiana Pacers and dynamic street-style play, made appearances at the festival.
For 2026, announced VIP guests include former NBA champion and 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest), alongside returning guest Lance Stephenson.
Backed by global brands Jordan Brand and Foot Locker, Summer Jam has evolved beyond a tournament into a marquee international basketball showcase that merges sport, lifestyle, and global street culture.
Competing in the Open Division, Athletes Unrivaled will participate under a 5-on-5 Invitational Streetball Rules format. The tournament gathers selected programs and teams from across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region - Japan, Brazil, New Zealand, USA, and the Philippines, with AU receiving a direct invitation from organizers.
Founded in 2024 by brothers Jericho Ilagan, former Chief Operating Officer of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL), and Jensen Ilagan, former Commissioner of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), Athletes Unrivaled was established as a structured, high-performance basketball academy built on international standards of governance and athlete development.
The program integrates strength and conditioning, advanced skills training, film analysis, structured competition, and professional-level preparation — positioning its athletes for both local and international opportunities while operating with the discipline and operational framework of a professional sports organization.
This marks AU’s first international tournament appearance, signaling a milestone moment for the young academy.
A delegation of 10 players will travel to Melbourne to represent the Philippines on the outdoor courts of St. Kilda - Hommer Macatangay, Mike Flores, Vincent Rocero, Hans Delos Reyes, LA Nepomuceno, Nano Alvarado, Makki Santos, Alexander Mohammad, and 2025 PBA Draftee Angelo Obuyes.
“For our athletes, this invitation represents validation,” said AU founder Jericho Ilagan. “We built Athletes Unrivaled to operate at international standards from day one. To be invited to compete abroad this early affirms that Filipino basketball talent and preparation can stand on any stage.”
The Melbourne appearance underscores AU’s commitment to exposing Filipino athletes to global competition while maintaining its development-first philosophy.
