Six international teams add spice to NBTC

Camp David and Durham Crossover

Just it has been for the past couple of years, the NBTC National Finals has featured overseas-based squads, and the 2019 Chooks-to-Go NBTC National Finals presented by SM will not be different. In fact, the field has expanded.

Six squads from abroad will be ready to impress when the seeding round commences tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena, led by a returning top-ranked recruit in the 2020 class.

Jalen Green is leading the cast that FilAm Sports USA is fielding for this competition, making a return trip after impressing last year. The guard from Fresno set the NBTC record with his 51-point outburst last year and his dunk over Kai Sotto in the NBTC All-Star Game went viral. Green is currently the 2nd ranked player in ESPN's recruiting ranking for 2020. He has offers from 18 Div I schools, including five of the Pac-12 schools, and bluebloods Kansas and Kentucky.

Green will be alongside a couple of notable ballers hoping to impress not only scouts in the country but also back home. Joining him are fellow returnees Brandon Wilson and Boogie Ellis.

Jeron Artest, the son of former NBA defensive stalwart Metta World Peace, and Eli Ramos, the brother of Cal Poly-Pomona wingman Dwight Ramos, will also be helping Green make an impact for the Bong Ulep-coached side.

The 6'4 Artest plays point guard has an standing offer from the University of Wyoming, with interest from Baylor, Butler, California-Berkeley, and Nevada, according 247Sports. Meanwhile, the 6'3 Ramos plays guard is averaging 17.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.5 steals for Walnut High School in California.

Toronto's Durham Crossover also returns to NBTC play, with the core of Tyler Garcia, Denzel Faraon, Jason Diaz, and Josh Samonte making plays for coach Mike Cruz, while AusPinoy Australia will be riding on Jasper Rentoy. New Zealand's Camp David is also making their presence felt.

Completing the cast are two new squads. Italy Europe Proudly Pinoy will be bolstered by FEU's Chiolo Anonuevo, who averaged 5.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and nearly a block for the Baby Tamaraws this past season. Canada will have a second team in the NBTC National Finals with newcomer Top Flight Hoops Vancouver.

All six teams will playing in the Seeding Round, with four of them facing each other and the other two going up against the at-large teams picked by the Selection Committee.

The winner of the Italy Europe Proudly Pinoy against Hope Christian HS will be the 9th seed while the loser takes the 16th seed.

The winner of FEU-Diliman against Durham Crossover will be the 10th seed and the loser takes the 15th seed.

The winner of the Top Flight Hoops against Camp David will be the 11th seed and the loser takes the 14th seed.

The winner of the Filam Sports USA against AusPinoy will be the 12th seed and the loser takes the 13th seed.

The acutal knockout rounds will take place starting Tuesday with the Super 32. All matches, including the seeding round will be streamed online via ESPN5, with the semifinals, finals, and the All-Star Game to be shown on 5Plus.

The 2019 Chooks-to-Go NBTC National Finals presented by SM is also sponsored by Darlington-Exped Socks, EPSON, Huawei, Freego, Purefoods, Gatorade, Go for Gold, and Molten. It is also presented by ESPN5 and Lighthouse Events.