NBTC Finals set for March return

NBTC is back

The premier grassroots tournament in the Philippines is set to come back next month, with the 2023 edition of NBTC National Finals.

Slated for March 15-19 at the Mall of Asia Arena, the thirteenth iteration will feature 24 teams, with a combination of squads coming out of the classification tournaments both here in the country and abroad.

Classification matches will determine the composition of teams in Division 1 and 2, which will then be divided into three groups of four teams that will engage in round-robin action. Outstanding teams will advance to the knockout rounds, in order to determine the champion in each division.

Program Director Eric Altamirano shares, "Finally, after a three-year wait, the stage is set for young Filipino talent to shine again. We're very much excited for our tournament to prove that Philippine grassroots basketball is alive and well.

Although the international field is set, there are still qualification tournaments taking place. The tournament has now pivoted from its purely-school based origins to now include club teams for the first time this year.

Participants need to be born before January 1, 2004 and has to have Filipino ancestry.

NU-Nazareth claimed the Div 1 title with a 95-83 victory over La Salle-Greenhills. The Bullpups rode on the exploits of Carl Tamayo, Terrence Fortea, Gerry Abadiano, and Cyril Gonzales over the duo of Inand Fornilos and Joshua David.

St. Augustine Institute, based in Pampanga, claimed the Div 2 title over Lyceum-Cavite. The Central Luzon rode on the duo of Jiam Quiambao and Jolo Manansala to fend off Junior Pirates that was led by the dynamic duo of McLaude Guadana and John Barba.

Other notable participants that were a part of the last edition include Kai Ballungay and Jalen Green of FilAm Sports USA, Justine Sanchez, Yukien Andrada, Rhayyan Amsali and Tony Ynot of San Beda, RJ Abarrientos of FEU, Cholo Anonuevo of Italy Europe Proudly Pinoy, and 

Also set to make its return is the NBTC All-Star Game, involving Team Heart and Team Hustle, with the outstanding youth ballers to showcase their skills for the world against their peers.

In the run-up to the NBTC Finals, the NBTC 24 will also make its comeback as the rankings for the best high school players in the country, mostly comprised from those in the ongoing NCAA Season 98 and UAAP Season 85 tournaments, as well as from the recently-concluded CESAFI Season 22 tournament. The rankings will be determined by a group of select sportswriters covering the leagues.

NBTC Special Projects head Anton Altamirano shares, "We're happy to be continuing on the road we've been on since 2017, when we first launched the NBTC 24 as a ranking system that recognizes the future of collegiate basketball and, ultimately, Philippine basketball."

Players in the NBTC 24, as well as standouts during the National Finals, will be named as part of the pool for the NBTC All-Star Game, which will also have its usual side events like the Three-Point Shootout, Skills Challenge, and Slam Dunk contest.