New league NBL focuses on grassroots talents

NBL execs during league launch. Photo from NBL-Philippines Facebook

A new amateur basketball league that caters to homegrown talent will have its inaugural season.

The National Basketball League will open on August 25 with 12 teams, bearing local players, from Bataan, Bulacan, Camarines Sur, Dasmariñas, Laguna, Marikina, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Parañaque, Quezon City, Rizal, and Taguig.

NBL will have amateur players aged 18 to 29-years-old who grew up in their respective provinces, cities, or municipality.

The games will be played in the different provinces giving the local communities to watch their talents from up close.

NBL commissioner and former PBA player Nandy Garcia said there is a potential from provincial players as he himself is a testament to that after scouts discovered him in a league in Imus.

“My life in basketball has gone full circle being the commissioner of the NBL. I’m looking forward to seeing new potential talents from our member teams,” said Garcia in a press conference on Wednesday at the Dad’s Restaurant – EDSA.

NBL chairman Celso Mercado said the NBL will not compete with the PBA nor the MPBL but will serve as a supplement league whose players can then jump to the higher levels.

“We are focusing on our grassroots development of our teams from provinces, cities, and municipalities. It is our dream that NBL players will be noticed by professional and semi-professional leagues,” said Mercado.

The NBL is also planning to organize a women’s commercial league and a youth league that could be finalized in the coming months.