PH's top high school cagers take center stage

Brace yourself for a frenetic finish in the SEAOIL–National Basketball Training Center League National High School Championship this weekend.

Four top teams from Metro Manila and 12 other provincial schools try to prove their genuine worth as the NBTC Elite League goes full blast starting this Friday in three different basketball venues in Pasig City.

“This will be the culminating event for NBTC this year,” stated NBTC program director Eric Altamirano Wednesday afternoon in a press conference at the Shakey’s Malate branch in Rajah Sulaiman Park, Manila.

“Ang primary purpose ng programa, hindi lang ma-showcase ‘yung talent ng mga players kundi ma-expose ‘yung mga nasa probinsiya. Sa ngayon, lumalapit na ang skills ng mga nasa probinsya dito sa mga taga Manila. And that’s good for Philippine basketball,” he added.

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Also gracing the event were NBTC training director Alex Compton, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios and multi-titled tactician Ato Badolato along with SEAOIL representatives Art Cruz and Abigail Ho.

“We’re very excited for this coming weekend. This event gives the players exposure and opportunity to be seen by coaches from big leagues like UAAP and NCAA,” stated Compton, who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Alaska Aces in the pro league.

Now on its sixth year and recognized as SBP’s official grassroots program, the NBTC Elite League features the country’s top 16 schools coming from regional championships and will be divided into four groups of four, their eyes focused on the biggest prize.

Serving as the league’s ultimate battlegrounds are the PhilSports Arena (formerly known as Ultra), the Ynares Sports Arena and the Meralco gym, with the finals slated on the Kapitolyo-based venue on Sunday.

According to Compton, this year’s edition has lured 184 schools in 20 cities, proving the program’s continuous growth with the help of SBP.

“Talagang dapat natin i-congratulate ang NBTC. It has really grown leaps and bounds. Kasama na rin dyan ang SEAOIL dahil they have the initiative to stage a nationwide tournament as big as this,” said Barrios, also a former pro league commissioner.

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Spicing up the three-day basketball extravaganza is the anticipated All-Star showcase–patterned after the McDonald All-American–that features the country’s top 30 high school cagers who were chosen by the league’s selection committee headed by Badolato.

Leading this year’s All-Star are Jerie Pingoy, Jeson Delfinado and Roger Domingo Jr. of reigning UAAP titlist Far Eastern University; defending NCAA champion San Beda’s Axel Inigo; Andre Paras, Mario Bonleon, Robert Bolick of La Salle-Greenhills; Hope Christian’s Edralin Villanueva and Clint Dolinguez; Raphael Atanga, Reggie Morido, Ralph Lawrence Busa and Levi Dela Cruz III of National University; Letran’s Rey Nambatac and Bong Quinto; Kimlee Bayquin, Carlo Young and Wilson Bartolome of Chiang Kai Shek College; Adamson’s Alwin John Margallo; Jon Macasaet of San Sebastian College, and; Xavier’s Kyles Lao.

Joining the Manila-based cagers are Andres Paul Desederio of University of Visayas; SHS-Ateneo de Cebu’s Arc Gabriel Araw-Araw; Kraniel Villoria of West Negros University; St. Mary School-Cagayan de Oro’s Jefher John Egan; Ricky Peromingan of Bukidnon Faith Christian School; Emar Learning Center-Davao’s Yozi Manguilimotan, and; Raymond Andico of Southern City College-Zamboanga.

The All-Star game will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, with FEU’s Michael Oliver and Britt Reroma of San Beda tipped to call the shots.

To give the up-and-coming cagers added boost, Altamirano disclosed multi-titled pro league coach Jong Uichico will conduct a one-day practice on Saturday at 5:30 in the afternoon at the PhilSports Arena.

“We want them to experience how to practice and be coached by a respected mentor like coach Jong. We’re excited to see these guys learn from him,” added the current National U men’s cage team head coach.