March 3, 2026: San Diego, CA — The Saints Alumni Association proudly announces the 70th Annual San Diego County Parochial Basketball Championship, a beloved tradition that has united Catholic and private schools from across the region—and even across the border in Mexico—since 1953. This year’s tournament, hosted at the historic St. Augustine High School, continues a legacy that predates iconic local events like the Holiday Bowl, December Nights, and Comic-Con, and stands as a hallmark of community, competition, and youth development in San Diego County.
Legacy of Basketball Excellence
San Diego’s basketball heritage is rich, producing stars who have gone on to collegiate and professional fame, including Bill Walton, Jud Buechler, Jelani McCoy, Jared Dudley, Chase Budinger, Kelsey Plum, and Norman Powell. The city has also been home to four professional teams—Clippers, Rockets, Sails, and Conquistadors—and legendary venues like the Sports Arena and Peterson Gym. Yet, before these stories unfolded, the Saints Alumni Parochial Basketball Tournament was already bringing together young athletes and their communities.
Tradition Rooted in Community
The tournament began in 1953, just two years after the completion of Dougherty Gym at St. Augustine High School. What started as a 16-team event has grown to include more than 40 teams in 2026, with Varsity and Junior Varsity divisions competing in a double-elimination format. The event has only been interrupted once, during the global COVID pandemic, and has since returned stronger than ever, now hosted in the modern Sanders Gymnasium.
Frederick J “Lico” Castro ’55 was a Junior at Saints and coached Our Lady of Guadalupe to the inaugural championship. His brother Alex and 3 others from that team went onto become varsity basketball players at Saints.
Patchwork Quilt of San Diego
From the beaches to Alpine, Oceanside to Tijuana, the tournament brings together a diverse patchwork of young athletes, coaches, and families. It is a sanctuary of sport, fostering healthy competition and lifelong memories for thousands of players over the past seven decades.
There have been thousands of players from all over the county that have participated in this tournament over the last 70 years, and they may not remember everything, but they sure remember how many points they scored in their championship game.
As one participant recalls, “Our team at St. Didacus wasn’t very good in 1986, but I was excited to play on the same court where my brother won the Free Throw contest the year before” Dominic Giammarinaro ’92.
Quotes from the Court
- “This is one of the most fun and well ran sporting events of the year for our students. The teams are competitive, the coaches are skilled and the fans are spirited. It is an honor to play in such a historic event at an iconic San Diego school!” – St. Michaels Coach
- “I remember this being the first time I had ever heard of Saints! Even after airballing a game-winning free throw I knew one thing, I wanted to go to Saints.” – Troy Gorostiza ‘93
- “This is my 4th year coaching the Mater Dei Crusaders and I have to say this tournament is the most exciting thing in our basketball world, it has gotten to the point where we see our regular parochial season as a pre-season to prepare for it!” –Mater Dei Coach Carlos Bon
- “Seventy years in, and this tournament still brings out the best in kids, coaches, and the community—it’s everything youth sports should be, and something that the School of the Madeleine is proud to be part of!” – Madeline Coach Chris Roman
About the Tournament
The Saints Alumni Parochial Basketball Tournament is more than a competition—it is a celebration of San Diego’s youth, tradition, and community spirit. The Saints Alumni Association remains dedicated to preserving this sanctuary of sport for generations to come. The tournament starts Sunday March 8th at 8am and runs for 6 days commencing with the JV and Varsity Championships on Sunday March 15th.