Our family and basketball community are coming together to support someone incredibly special to us — our 19-year-old coach, Zeke Natorilla. He is not just a coach, but a friend to us all and a mentor to the young kids he trains and coaches.

If you know him, you know his heart.

At just 19 years old, he serves as the head coach of our 12U (6th grade) AAU team. While many young adults are still figuring themselves out, he has already committed himself to serving others. He pours his time, energy, and passion into developing young athletes — not just as basketball players, but as disciplined, confident, and respectful young men and women.

Coaching isn’t just something he does. It’s who he is.

On the side, he runs his own training sessions — his true passion — helping athletes sharpen their skills and believe in themselves. Yet even with his own ambitions, his focus is always on his players and their families. He goes above and beyond without ever being asked. He checks in on kids. He mentors them. He supports parents. He gives his time freely.

But above all, he is a young man of deep faith.

His strong religious conviction guides his decisions, his character, and the way he treats people. He leads with integrity. He believes in serving others. He prays for his players. He speaks life into those around him. His dedication to God is not something he talks about loudly — it’s something he lives out daily through humility, kindness, and leadership.

He is strong-minded, ambitious, grounded in faith, and full of personality. He has ingratiated himself into our lives and into this community in such a meaningful way. We absolutely love this young man.

Recently, he experienced a heartbreaking setback.

Trying to be responsible and independent, he purchased a car through Facebook Marketplace — only to later discover it had been stolen as part of a scam. The vehicle was seized, and he lost all of his hard-earned money.

In an instant, everything changed.

For a young man preparing for his future — soon to be college-bound and currently awaiting acceptance to UC Berkeley — this loss has been devastating. Reliable transportation is essential for him to coach, run training sessions, and prepare for college. Without it, continuing to serve his team and move forward becomes incredibly difficult.

Despite this setback, his faith has remained strong. He hasn’t complained. He hasn’t blamed. He continues to show up for his players with the same heart and dedication.

This fundraiser is about more than replacing a car.

It’s about restoring momentum.

It’s about protecting the future of a young leader.

It’s about showing him that the same community he pours into is here to pour back into him.

Our goal is to raise enough money so we do bank transfer to Zeke Natorilla so he purchase a safe, reliable vehicle from a reputable dealership and move forward without this financial burden weighing him down.

If you feel led to give, any amount makes a difference. If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser. Let’s rally around a young man who lives with purpose, faith, and service at the center of his life.

He deserves a fresh start.

He deserves support.

And he deserves to keep chasing his God-given dreams without this tragedy defining him.

Offline donations are accepted and encouraged. Please contact Zeke directly.

Thank you for standing with him and with us.

With love and gratitude,

The Flight Academy Family