CESAFI champions lead provincial field for NBTC

SHS-Ateneo de Cebu

A dozen provincial teams are set to make a claim to be the best high school team in the country when the 2023 SMART NBTC National Finals takes place this March 15-19 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Leading the cast is CESAFI champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, which won the title back in 2015 by defeating traditional high school juggernaut San Beda.

And with the decision to open the competition to not just school-based squads starting this year, teams like Pampanga Delta are taking advantage.

These two came out of their local qualifying tournaments to earn a spot in the National Finals, just like these teams: Team Tarlac (Central Luzon), University of Luzon (Baguio), Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas (Cavite), Holy Trinity College-General Santos (Kidapawan), Saint Benilde International School-Calamba (Laguna), Level Up Max Ballers Davao (Northern Mindanao), Batang Tiaong (Quezon), Don Bosco Dumaguete (Visayas), and Doc Boleros (Caloocan/Quezon City).

One more team will complete the provincial cast when the Batangas champion will be crowned in March.

These twelve teams will have the chance to become the best and potentially deny a third straight title for Nazareth School of National University.

Once the field is officially set, these 24 teams will first be classified as to which teams will be in Division 1 and 2, with each division subdivided into four groups of three teams. The top teams of each group will advance into the semifinals where the two champions eventually will be crowned on March 19.

The final day will also feature the final of the inaugural Girls Have Next competition powered by Fil-Nation Select, as well as the Under Armour All-Star Game and its accompanying side events.