24 HS teams compete for
title of ‘Best in the Philippines’
by
rick olivares
“Now it gets exciting.
Very exciting.”
Thus pronounced
SM-National Basketball Training Center tournament director Eric Altamirano in
front of media and a few participating teams who gathered at a press conference
at the Wild Buffalo Wings restaurant at Capital Commons last March 9 on the eve
of the country’s biggest basketball competition.
After four months of
intense and rigorous competition, from a field of close to 800 high school
teams spread across 62 teams from all over the Philippines and from four other
countries, their roads now merge towards the Mall of Asia Arena where the pared
field of 40 squads will compete from March 13-16 or the bragging rights of the
best Division One and Best Division Two team in this basketball crazy republic.
The league, an official
grassroots program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, is now on its 10th
year, and has grown from a handful of teams from three cities to a record of
close to 800 schools from 62 cities all across the archipelago. And building on
last year’s tourney that featured two Fil-foreign squads from Canada and
Thailand, there are now four international teams from Australia, Canada, New
Zealand, and the United States of America who will also be taking part in the
competition.
“It seems that the theme
for this tournament is ‘redemption,’” assessed Altamirano of the cast that has
formed for the Division One championships.
Participating in the
Division One tourney are NCAA champion Mapua, UAAP champion Far Eastern
University, MMBL champion San Beda, CESAFI champion Ateneo de Cebu, and the
Fil-foreign squads of AusPinoy Australia, Durham Crossover Canada, Camp David
New Zealand, and FilAm Sports USA.
San Beda, recognized as
perhaps the most bemedalled high school team in the land lost in the finals of
the last two SM-NBTC tournaments – first to Ateneo de Cebu two years ago and
then to National University last season. Mapua would also like to gain the
upper hand on the Red Cubs after falling to them in the MMBL finals. Both
squads are 1-1 in title play this year and should they meet in the SM-NBTC
Finals, fireworks will surely explode.
Durham Crossover planed
in with high expectations and with their US Division One aspirants. Yet in
their first match of the tournament, they were defeated by Chiang Kai Shek
College after a game-winning lay-up at the buzzer by John Galinato. “We haven’t
forgotten that and we’re here for redemption,” said Canada coach Mike Cruz.
For FEU coach Allan
Albano, winning a national championship would be a nice ending for this fairy
tale season. “We do not want San Beda and Mapua to have all the fun,” playfully
teased Albano.”
Said San Beda coach JB
Sison, “Twice na kami nabigo. Sana walang three-peat para sa second place and
mag-champion na kami.”
Speaking of fairy tales,
De La Salle Lipa, as defending Division Two champions returns. Joining them are
Isabela Colleges of Cauayan; STI-Malolos of Bulacan; St. Joseph’s College of
Olongapo; La Finn’s Scholastica of La Union; St. Benilde International School
of Calamba, Laguna; St. Jude College of Cavite; Jesus the Loving Shepherd of
Naga; University of St. La Salle of Bacolod; St. Robert’s International Academy
of Iloilo; St. Louis College of Mandaue, Cebu; New Ormoc City National High
School from Leyte; Langatian National High School of Dipolog; Assumption
Montessori School of Cagayan De Oro; Notre Dame of Midsayap College of
Kidapawan; and Ateneo de Davao.
“We believe that this
program is a very good one for talent identification not only for the national
team but also for high schools and colleges across the country,” added NBTC
founder Eric Altamirano. “Players like Roger Pogoy (who went on to fame with
FEU) and Baser Amer (San Beda), and even coaches like Aldin Ayo who was with
Sorsogon came up through the program.”
SBP Executive Director
Renauld “Sonny” Barrios, lauded the SM-NBTC program citing its growth and
reach, “It is a model grassroots program that provides so much opportunity for
kids from all over the country to continue their education and to give life to
their basketball dreams. We at SBP are happy to be supporting this.”
The SM-NBTC National
Championships will be played this coming March 13-16 at the Mall of Asia Arena
in Pasay City and will be televised on a delayed basis by ABS-CBN Sports +
Action. The SM-NBTC National Championships are sponsored in part by Freego.
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