NBTC set for return after three-year hiatus

FILE PHOTO — Kai Sotto and Jalen Green, two of the early recruits in the NBA G League. NBTC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—After three years of hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBTC National Finals returns next month to showcase the young talents on the rise for Philippine basketball. 

In its 13th installment, the NBTC will not be limited to just school-based squads but will also include ball club teams as long as the players competing are born before January 1, 2004  and have Filipino lineage.

“After a three-year wait, the stage is set for young Filipino talent to shine again. We’re very much excited for our tournament to prove that Philippine grassroots basketball is alive and well,” said program director, Eric Altamirano.

Before the yearly tournament for high school ballers was halted back in 2020, National University–headlined by Carl Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano and Terrence Fortea– took home the tournament’s richest prize for two straight years.

All three of those notable names for the Bullpups turned out to be huge key players for the University of the Philippines in UAAP Seasons 84 and 85’s men’s basketball tournament.

The NBTC, however, will continue to uphold its usual selection process as to who and which teams will compete in the week-long event.

Participants will be selected through the NBTC 24, which ranks the best of the best players in the ongoing NCAA Season 98 juniors’ tournament and UAAP Season 85 boys’ basketball tournament as well as the CESAFI Season 22 high school tournament. 

The selection committee will be composed of print and online sportswriters regularly covering the leagues to determine the top 24 Filipino high school players.

Also returning to the NBTC stage is the All-Star game between Team Heart and Team Hustle alongside the Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Shootout and Skills Challenge.

“We’re happy to be continuing on the road we’ve been on since 2017, when we first launched the NBTC 24 as a ranking system that recognizes the future of collegiate basketball and, ultimately, Philippine basketball,” said Special Projects Head, Anton Altamirano.

The NBTC takes place at Mall of Asia Arena from March 15 to 19.