Over the past decade, southern Manitoba has seen a steady influx of immigrants from the Philippines. 

During the winter months, members of the community have gathered at a local gym to play the country's favorite sport - basketball. 

Their love of this accessible game has grown into the Pembina Valley Filipino Basketball League, consisting of teams from Altona, Morris, Morden and Winkler.

Bryan Collantes is one of the organizers.

"We have [a] number of communities around Southern Manitoba. It's a get together just to get through winter. It's a past time, a favorite sport in our home country. In Canada, you say hockey, and, in our country, we say basketball. We do this every winter to pass time with the cold."

In the Philippines, there's a hoop on every corner of every street said Collantes. 

"It's a cheap sport."

He emphasizes that their league is about more than just playing the game.

"It's phenomenal! Every year there's a number of people that come in. It's also saying that 'hey, you're welcome here.' If you want to get involved in this sport, we want to know you, we want to see and meet new people, new faces in this kind of event. It's just not competition, it's a get together, also socializing."

This year, the league has been invited to play at W.C. Miller Gymnasium in Altona. Games take place on Sundays from 1-7 pm.

People interested in joining can find information on the league's Facebook page.