SHS-Ateneo, featuring Gilas Pilipinas Youth Jared Bahay. – PICTURE CONTRIBUTIONS
MANILA, Philippines—Half of the returning Smart NBTC National Finals teams have been identified.
With 24 slots available to high school and basketball clubs, 12 provincial teams have booked tickets to the biggest showcase of young Philippine basketball talents.
Former Sacred Heart School 1st Division champions Ateneo de Cebu and Pampanga Delta are notable names for the upcoming tournament.
Along with that are two historic clubs, Team Tarlac (representing Central Luzon), University of Luzon (Baguio), Philippine Christian University Dasmariñas (Cavite), Holy Trinity College General Santos (Kidapawan) and Saint Benilde International School Calamba (Laguna).
Promoted teams Max Ballers Davao (Northern Mindanao) Batang Tiaong (Quezon), Don Bosco Dumaguete (Visayas) and Doc Boleros (Caloocan/Quezon City) are also confirmed to compete for the 13th season championship.
Pampanga Delta, Team Tarlac, Level Up Max Ballers Davao, Batang Tiaong and Doc Boleros are all considered ball clubs.
Just a few weeks ago, NBTC confirmed that the National Finals will not be limited to school teams, making room for more young talent to showcase their talents.
Before the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National University Nazareth School held the crown for the same year (2018 and 2019).
Twenty-four teams will compete in classification competitions where the winners will be grouped into Division 1.
Otherwise, the losing teams will be moved to Division 2. After that, both divisions will have groups of three teams of four who will play against each other in a knockout format.
The top teams from both groups will advance to the knockout semi-finals and then the final, where the top teams of Division 1 and Division 2 will be determined.
The 13th National Finals of NBTC will take place from March 15 to 19 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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