Bahay leads NBTC 24

NBTC 24

The NBTC 24 has been released after a three-year hiatus, with a Jared Bahay becoming the first player outside of the UAAP and NCAA to be named as its top-ranked player.

The Gilas Youth standout from Sacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu has been named as the best player under the age of nineteen in the country, joining the likes of Encho Serrano, Kai Sotto (who did it in consecutive years), and Rhayyan Amsali, and doing so as the first one that is not from either the UAAP or the NCAA.

Bahay's achievements centered on his feats in both the FIBA-Asia U-16 and Under-18 Championships, as well as in the 22nd season of the CESAFI tournament, where he was named as the Most Valuable Player in helping the Magis Eagles clinch the title.

He and Raffy Celis are the only players outside of the UAAP and NCAA to make the list, with thirteen coming from the former and nine from the latter.

La Salle-Greenhills forward Luis Pablo was ranked second, with his teammate Seven Gagate fifth. Completing the top five are a couple of do-everything ballhandlers in Rein Jumamoy of NU Nazareth in third and Andy Gemao of Letran in fourth.

The players named in the NBTC 24 will be split into two teams that would comprise the initial group of All-Stars for the 2023 Under Armour All-Star Game scheduled on March 19 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Team Hustle, to be coached by Cholo Villanueva, is backstopped by Pablo, Jumamoy, and Gemao. Joining the three are two top-ten players in Ateneo's Kris Porter and Adamson's Peter Rosillo. Comprising the rest of the squad are Amiel Acido of Perpetual, Janrey Pasaol of FEU, Kobe Demisana of UPIS, SJ Moore of Arellano, Kieffer Alas of La Salle-Zobel, Andrei Dungo of San Beda, and Celis.

Team Heart, to be coached by Willie Wilson, is backstopped by Bahay and Gagate. Joining the duo are three top-ten players in Rhyle Melencio of La Salle-Zobel, Matthew Rubico of Lyceum, and Chris Hubilla of San Beda. Comprising the rest of the squad are Lebron Nieto of Ateneo, Jonathan Manalili of Letran, RJ Colonia of NU Nazareth, Mark Llemit of UST, Veejay Pre of FEU, Mat Edding of Adamson, and Jonas Napalang of UPIS.

Both teams will be supplemented by select outstanding players from the National Finals.

Aside from the All-Star Game, it will also have its accompanying side events: the Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Shootout, and the Skills Challenge. The day will also culminate with the championship matches for the inaugrual Girls Have Next presented by Fil-Nation Select, as well as the Division 1 and 2 of the National Finals.

The 2023 NBTC 24 rankings are as follows, with their corresponding team in parenthesis:

1) Jared Bahay - CESAFI/SHS-Ateneo (Heart)
2) Luis Pablo - NCAA/LSGH (Hustle)
3) Rein Jumamoy - UAAP/NSNU (Hustle)
4) Andy Gemao - NCAA/Letran (Hustle)
5) Seven Gagate - NCAA/LSGH (Heart)
6) Kristian Porter - UAAP/Ateneo (Hustle)
7) Rhyle Melencio - UAAP/DLSZ (Heart)
8) Matthew Rubico - NCAA/LPU (Heart)
9) Peter Rosillo - UAAP/Adamson (Hustle)
10) Chris Hubilla - NCAA/San Beda (Heart)
11) Amiel Acido - NCAA/Perpetual (Hustle)
12) Lebron Nieto - UAAP/Ateneo (Heart)
13) Janrey Pasaol - UAAP/FEU-D (Hustle)
14) Kobe Demisana - UAAP/UPIS (Hustle)
15) SJ Moore - NCAA/Arellano (Hustle)
16) Jonathan Manalili - NCAA/Letran (Heart)
17) RJ Colonia - UAAP/NSNU (Heart)
18) Kieffer Alas - UAAP/DLSZ (Hustle)
19) Mark Llemit - UAAP/UST (Heart)
20) Andrei Dungo - NCAA/San Beda (Hustle)
21) Raffy Celis - CESAFI/SHS-Ateneo (Hustle)
22) Veejay Pre - UAAP/FEU-D (Heart)
23) Mat Edding - UAAP/Adamson (Heart)
24) Jonas Napalang - UAAP/UPIS (Heart)

The 2023 SMART-NBTC National Finals is presented by SM, Strong Realty and Development Corp., Under Armour, and Molten, and is sponsored by Tecno, Regent, Rebel Sports Pilipinas, MNL Kingpin, Gatorade, Swish App, Victory Liner, Darlington, Coach E Basketball School, Lighthouse Events, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

Select games will be streamed on Facebook on NBTC, Smart Sports, and Puso Pilipinas pages.