NGBL set for tip-off

A new element in the basketball scene is set to emerge starting Sunday morning, with the start of the Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL).

In establishing the NGBL, league commissioner Ronnie Magsanoc shares, "I believe that the NGBL has formulated a competition wherein the top-notch schools are going to be able to compete against one another."

He adds, "Our focus for now is to provide the best possible avenue for high school teams to compete in. Alongside this are values formation, discipline, obedience, and at the same time, equipping them with the lens of playing the game the right way."

Serving as the league's executives alongside Magsanoc are Alfrancis Chua as the Executive Committee Chairman, LA Tenorio as Tournament Director, Bonnie Tan as Program Director, and Fidel Mangonon III as the Operations Manager. Bigboy Cheng acts as the league president, while Eric Ang handles finance.

Fourteen teams have been invited to particpate, twelve of which are coming from the UAAP and the NCAA, with Fil-Chinese institutions Xavier and MGC New Life Christian Academy completing the field, which has been split into two groups of seven teams.

The competition kicks off at the Tanduay Gym with a quadruple-header, with the matchup between Arellano and San Beda at 9am, followed by National University-Nazareth School against the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta at 1030am.

In the afternoon session, FEU-Diliman faces the University of Santo Tomas at 1pm, followed by the University of the East against Jose Rizal University at 230pm.

Supporting the inaugural edition of the NGBL are Uratex, Jollibee, JE Tour Philippines, World Balance, Verleo Catering, Tanduay Athletics, and RICA UPVC Aluminum Glass and Trading Corp.

In addition, Molten will serve as the official game ball, Team Rebel Sports Pilipinas as the official outfitter, and Gatorade and Summit Natural Drinking Water as the official hydration partners.

Games will take place at the Tanduay Gym on Sundays and Holidays, with Saturday matches taking place at the Aero Center in Quezon City. The league is set to stream them online through their official social media platforms.