SJ Moore, Team Hustle claim NBTC All-Star Game nod

Team Hustle and Team Heart

The future of Philippine basketball showed about at the Under Armour-NBTC All-Star Game, which made its return for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic forced the postponement.

Team Hustle emerged as 108-91 winners over Team Heart at the Mall of Asia Arena, with SJ Moore named as the Most Outstanding Player.

The Arellano standout scored nineteen points in the showpiece event of the biggest grassroots tournament in the country, which is backed by Smart, SM, Strong Realty and Development Corp., Under Armour, and Molten.

Ranked 15th in the NBTC 24, Moore shared about the experience, "For me, it was about being the top player among the 24 best."

He adds, "Especially, getting a chance a play with all the best NCAA's juniors (players), I'm lucky to be chosen to be the best player."

Moore scored ten points in the first quarter for Cholo Villanueva-coached Team Hustle, as they asserted themselves early on. They would extend that advantage into the second period, erecting a 55-39 halftime lead.

The lead would balloon to as much as 25 points late in the third period, 86-61. Team Heart would manage to reduce the deficit to as low as twelve with 80 seconds remaining at 100-88, but time ran out for the comeback attempt.

Kieffer Alas of La Salle-Zobel added fourteen markers, with Andy Gemao of Letran adding thirteen of his own.

Villanueva added about the NBTC All-Star Game experience, "For me it's a great experience being a coach. You want to be honing the next generation of basketball players and being a part of this event is really a privilege for me."

Chris Hubilla of San Beda led the Ty Tang-coached Team Heart with 27 points.

In the side events, Lorence dela Cruz of Winnipeg edged out Caelum Harris of Fil-Nation Select for the Slam Dunk crown, with the 5'9" guard nailing a one-handed windmill off a bounce pass, impressing the three-man panel of Mikey Williams, Glenn Khobuntin, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

He then would put it on ice with a two-handed 360.

John Rex Villanueva of Batang Tiaong claimed the Three-Point Shootout, converting fifteen from deep and besting Kobe Chong of Saint Jude Catholic School, who could only manage eleven.

In the Skills Challenge, Kristian Porter beat out Vhoris Marasign in the final, finishing the course at 22.2 seconds.

The NBTC National Finals is supported by Tecno, Regent, Rebisco, Jollibee, San Miguel Corp., Maynilad, Rebel Sports Pilipinas, MNL Kingpin, Gatorade, Swish App by NBN23, Victory Liner, Jasper Jean, Darlington, Exped, Mr. Freeze, Coach E Basketball School, Lighthouse Events, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.