From the Bay to Taft: Jason Cibull’s Basketball Journey

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jason Cibull was surrounded by basketball long before he ever stepped onto a court himself.

Watching Golden State Warriors games became part of family life, while weekends were often spent supporting friends and relatives who played in local leagues. Basketball wasn’t something that suddenly entered his life, it was always there.

“I think pretty much as soon as I was born, my family, my family’s friends, everybody around me just loved watching basketball. I grew up in the Bay, so everybody loved going to Warriors games. It was kind of just brought into my life the moment I was born,” he told ALL-STAR.

Basketball Was Always Part of the Family

His father’s involvement in the sport also played a significant role. Cibull spent much of his childhood watching him compete alongside family friends, and before long, he found himself wanting to experience the game for himself. Looking back, he says basketball never really felt like a decision, it was simply something he naturally gravitated toward.

“I always wanted to play because my dad and his friends were in an adult league. We’d always watch each other’s games growing up. It just embedded itself into our family. I’m not saying I didn’t have a choice, but I just fell in love with it and gravitated to it since the moment I can remember.”

His first organized basketball game came when he was around six or seven years old, and it didn’t take long before competition became his favorite part of the sport.

“I think the first organized game I played, I was about six or seven years old. That competitive fire that lit in me the first time I played a real game—it was addicting. I just wanted more and more of it.”

Basketball eventually became his primary sport, although it wasn’t the only one he played growing up. Cibull also spent time on the soccer field and baseball diamond, experiences that he believes helped shape his overall athleticism before he fully committed to basketball.

“I played a lot of soccer. I played a lot of baseball growing up as well. I feel like I was pretty good at both. I think soccer gave me a good foundation with footwork and all of that. The other sports helped growing up as well, but it was always basketball.”

Finding a Home at La Salle

Playing in the Philippines wasn’t always part of his plans.

Although his mother is from Batangas City, Cibull spent most of his life in the United States. It wasn’t until he visited the Philippines as a teenager that the possibility of continuing his basketball career here first crossed his mind. Meeting relatives and spending time with family introduced him to a different side of the country’s basketball culture, and many encouraged him to consider returning one day as a player.

“So when we came out here and visited, I met a lot of family and they were all like, ‘Oh man, you got to come play out here.’ And as my college career in the States unfolded, I looked to opportunities in the Philippines and thought, yeah, I should definitely go. It’s a great opportunity.”

As his collegiate career in the United States came to a close, that opportunity finally presented itself.

Several schools reached out about bringing him over for a one-and-done season. After visiting different programs, one school stood out more than the others. The environment, the opportunity, and the overall fit ultimately led him to choose the Green Archers. 

“I was talking to a few schools coming here. I visited a few different schools, but I think it was La Salle that I felt most at home at. I felt like I’d get the best opportunity, and I’m glad I chose it.”

Even with years of experience behind him, the adjustment wasn’t automatic. While basketball is fundamentally the same wherever it’s played, Cibull quickly noticed that the style in the Philippines demanded a different approach, especially from someone playing the point guard position.

“There’s a little bit of difference. I feel like every country you go to, there’s probably something a little bit different. But at the end of the day, it’s just basketball. If you’re good enough or you’re a smart basketball player, you’re able to adjust to whatever circumstances you’re playing in.”

The biggest adjustment came from the defensive pressure applied by opposing guards.

“I think the main difference is a lot of teams have their point guards play defense picking up full court. So I had to get used to playing defense full court and also bringing the ball up full court with the defender on me.”

Despite those adjustments, Cibull has approached every challenge the same way he has approached basketball throughout his life, with the understanding that every experience, whether good or bad, teaches something valuable.

Reflecting on the biggest struggles he’s faced in the sport, he admitted that the difficult days often leave the strongest lessons.

“I think it’s just the ups and downs. Today obviously was pretty frustrating. But it’s kind of just part of basketball. You go through ups and downs. You get to learn life lessons. Life isn’t always going to go your way, just like basketball. You just got to put your head down, work harder. You can’t control everything, but you might as well control what you can control.”

That perspective has allowed him to move past disappointing performances and focus instead on continuing to improve, something he believes matters far more than dwelling on losses.

Why No. 95?

Away from the court, however, one detail about Cibull has quickly caught the attention of fans.

His jersey number.

Unlike many athletes who wear numbers carrying family history or personal significance, Cibull’s choice came from an all-time childhood favorite.

“I like the movie Cars. It’s just Lightning McQueen’s number. It just depends, either Cars 1, I think Cars 2 gets me pretty hyped up. Sometimes I watch it before the game. But Cars 1, probably the best overall movie, especially as I get older.”

Having previously worn No. 2 and No. 11 throughout different stages of his career, he decided there was no reason to overthink his final collegiate jersey.

“To me, some people care about their number a lot. So I thought I might as well have fun with it. I’ll go with 95.”

Jason Cibull’s stay at La Salle may only last one season, but his journey to Taft reflects more than just a basketball decision. It tells the story of a player who grew up on the other side of the world, embraced an opportunity to reconnect with his Filipino roots, and chose to spend his final year of college basketball in a place that quickly felt like home.

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