Batang Tiaong leads South Luzon contingent for NBTC National Finals

c/o NBTC

The final four teams comprising the Regional Championship qualifiers for the SM NBTC National Finals were confirmed on Saturday, with the results of the South Luzon leg held at Lucena City.

Leading the way amongst the four teams is Batang Tiaong, who booked their return ticket to the Mall of Asia Arena with an 85-77 victory over Team Los Baños.

After their promising debut last year behind the efforts of Vhoris Marasigan, this year's iteration featured the duo of John Renz Apor and John Mowell Morales. The representative of the first and second districts of Quezon seek to improve on their quarterfinal finish, which included an victory over Ateneo de Manila.

Joining them in Pasay is One Media TV48-Naga, as they held on to a 77-72 victory over fellow Bicol side Amando Cope College of Camarines Sur, thanks to the efforts of Joseph Palaje and James Nuada.

Completing the quartet are two squads from Dasmarinas, Cavite. St. Jude College defeated John-Nette Banana Chips-Pinamalayan of Mindoro, 90-83, behind Stanley Gicoso and Lexel Aguilo. The trio of John Catayong, Jay Divinagracia, and Lauro Pronda powered Philippine Christian University to a double-overtime victory over University of Perpetual Help-Laguna. 99-95.

They join North Luzon's Yengskivel Sportswear (CAMANAVA), Philippine College of Science and Technology-Calasiao (Pangasinan), Pampanga Lanterns, and 1 San Rafael (Bulacan); Mindanao's Toyomoto Auto Supply and Bullet Customs Brokerage-Prime Bistro (Davao), Xavier-Ateneo de Cagayan-Sealcor, and Notre Dame of Midsayap (SOCCSKSARGEN); and Visayas' Khalifa (Cebu), UNBL-Don Bosco (Dumaguete), Trinity-Davies Paint/El Tzino (Central Negros), and St. Roberts International Academy-Elite Lab (Iloilo) as the regional representatives in the National Finals, which is scheduled for March 18-24.

Action is still set to resume in the tournament hosted by the Quezon Provincial Government led by Governor Helen Tan and Representative Mike Tan, with the semifinals and final still to be played.