Left to right: Rommel Esguerra, Lenny Reyes, Leo Velasquez and Nelson Abeleda

In mid-2003, there was a need to form a basketball team to join a South Jersey tournament.  Four avid basketball-playing friends: Nelson Abeleda, Rommel Esguerra, Lenny Reyes and Leo Velasquez decided to form a team and named that team “Central Jersey Kalahi” to use for that South Jersey tournament. That very first Kalahi team won that South Jersey tournament with the MVP coming from Kalahi: Lenny Reyes, a former professional basketball player in the Philippines now a Central Jersey high school basketball coach.

Kalahi’s first President, Marlon Magsaysay, with help from Emmanuel “Boy” Laano, saw the opportunity to grow the group’s membership. They secured a weekly timeslot at the Our Lady of Fatima gym in Piscataway, NJ that is still in use today. That relationship with the Our Lady of Fatima parish and its administration was very important in developing Kalahi’s membership.

By late 2003, Central Jersey Kalahi applied for, and was granted, non-profit, tax-exempt status in accordance with Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. While Kalahi operates as a non-profit organization, the generosity of its members, sponsors and contributions raised in fund-raising activities allow Kalahi to implement its mission of developing as many Fil-Am youths through sports, training and cultural activities.

The Central Jersey Kalahi Athletic Association now has members in several age groups: Mosquitos, Tykes, Peewees, Bantams, Girls, Juniors, Juveniles, Ladies, Open, Seniors and Masters.