With equal parts basketball and dance, the Harlem Ambassadors put on a high-flyin’, high-falootin’ show in Whitehorse Tuesday.

The U.S. show team rolled into the Yukon capital Tuesday, much to the delight of local hoops fans.

The team – made up of drug-free ex-U.S. college players – put on a memorable performance at Porter Creek Secondary School, beating a Whitehorse Selection team 97-53 in front of a jam-packed gymnasium.

The Whitehorse Selection team was made up of Filipino all-stars and local government officials – including Mayor Dan Curtis.

The Ambassadors – led by show woman Lade Majic – set the tone by scoring on a monster jam moments after the opening tip.

Coun. John Streiker got Whitehorse on the board by draining a jump shot, but it wasn’t long before the Ambassadors pulled away.

Gameplay was halted several times for comedic moments, including a funny spot where Majic fouled Curtis and then pinned him like a wrestler.

With Majic’s over-the-top antics distracting him at the line, Curtis missed both of his foul shots.

Majic delayed the game several other times for humorous exchanges – including a “debate” with referee Stephen Mooney and a dance-off with members of the Whitehorse squad.

But while the Ambassadors dunked their way to victory, they also missed their share of shots. Not to be outdone, the Filipino players showed off some of their own razzle-dazzle moves, much to the crowd’s delight.

Whitehorse Selection player Josh Tobias, 17, said the game was a “great opportunity” and loads of fun.

Half time saw the crowd take to the court for a Harlem Shake, before traditional and hip-hop Filipino dancers took turns entertaining fans.

Post-game, Majic acknowledged the “honorary ambassadors” in the audience who had vowed to stay positive and drug free.

“Your future is in your hands,” Majic said. “Young people, keep dreaming.”

The event was organized as a joint project by the Canadian Filipino Association of the Yukon and the Yukon Pinoy Basketball League.

The game was an opportunity to “give back” to the Whitehorse community for their support when Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines last year, said Mike Buensuceso, president of the local Filipino association.

“It was great to see so many smiling faces in the stands,” he told the Star. “We didn’t expect support to be this tremendous. The Ambassadors are really great motivational speakers and I think they left a good impression with the community.”

The local association remains deeply grateful for the support from the Whitehorse community following the natural disaster that displaced more than four million people in the Philippines last November.

The game was lauded in the Yukon legislature by participating MLAs, including NDP member Kevin Barr, who played, and Liberal leader Sandy Silver, who was a referee.

Barr said it was “awesome” to see the team honour the young people who made a pledge to be drug-free.

Meanwhile, the Yukon’s Filipino basketball league kicked off a brand-new season Sunday.

The league, which began in 2007, has grown in popularity every year as more Filipinos immigrate to the Yukon seeking employment and a new life in Canada.

This season’s opening ceremony was held Sunday at F.H. Collins Secondary School.

In front of many family and friends, the league honoured Vanier Crusaders coach Sean McCarron and Basketball Yukon head coach Tim Brady.

Also on hand were MLAs Mike Nixon and Silver, Mayor Curtis and Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu, as well as team sponsor Vickie Roche of Sun Life Financial.

“For the close to 2,500 Filipinos who call Whitehorse home, the love of basketball has moved here with them and the league provides a link to home for many,” Silver said in the legislature yesterday.

“From very humble beginnings, the league now boasts 150 players and several teams.”

Spectators had an enjoyable evening of entertainment watching the first games of the season Sunday.

In the first game of the season, USANA beat San Isidro 111-57.

USANA was led by J.B. New’s double-double performance of 20 points and 16 rebounds, while San Isidro’s Tonyo De Leon had a game-high 28 points.

The second game of the season saw KFC get past Sun Life Financial 75-60 behind John Apostol’s 26-point effort.

Other league sponsors include Air North, Vertical Limit and IT Care.

– With files by Vickie Roche