NBTC National Finals set to commence

The Bullpups are ready for the NBTC

Even if they fell short of their quest to defend their UAAP HS boys basketball title, NU Nazareth School still has another goal left to be checked.

The Bullpups have three-peat aspirations with the start of the 2023 SMART-NBTC National Finals presented by SM on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Led by NBTC 24's third-ranked player Rein Jumamoy, and helmed by Kevin de Castro, NUNS earned the top-seed amongst the field, one that includes fellow UAAP schools UST and Ateneo, as well as NCAA representative Mapua-Malayan.

Completing the field are eight international teams and twelve squads who survived the various local qualifying tournaments held across the country.

Day 1 centers on the Super 24, as it will determine which twelve teams will be either on Division 1 or Division 2.

NUNS is paired with PCU-Dasmarinas, who topped the Cavite local qualifying tournament, and will cap off action at the E-Com Center at 430pm.

Opening action at the Mall of Asia Arena is CESAFI champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, led by the top-ranked player in the NBTC 24 in Jared Bahay, as they face Euro side Rome Elite at 9am.

Other notable Super 24 matchups sees Pampanga Delta go up against Homegrown Australia at 430pm, as well as Team United USA against Canadian side Winnipeg at 9am in E-Com.

Potential contenders Fil-Nation Select will rely on Gilas Youth standouts Caelum Harris, Jacob Bayla, and Zain Mahmood against Doc Boleros at 3pm in the MOA Arena.

Late addition Ateneo is slated to face Batang Tiaong at 130pm.

Complete Super 24 schedule can be seen below.

Also scheduled to take place on Wednesday, but at the Pretty Huge facility in Taguig, is the Girls Have Next tournament, the inaugural girls grassroots tournament played under the NBTC auspices.

The SMART-NBTC National Finals is powered by Smart, SM, Strong Realty and Development Corp., Under Armour, and Molten, and is sponsored by Tecno, Regent, Rebisco, Jollibee, San Miguel Foundation, Maynilad, Rebel Sports Pilipinas, MNL Kingpin, Gatorade, Swish App, Victory Liner, Jasper Jean, Darlington, Exped, Coach E Basketball School, Lighthouse Events, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.