THE defending champion San Beda University Red Cubs will have new faces when the 11th season of SM-NBTC (National Basketball Training Center) League takes place from March 19 to 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Coach JB Sison said many of the veterans who have led the Red Cubs to numerous titles in the National Athletic Association junior division have graduated. That’s why, a rookie-laden squad will see action in the weeklong national finals and the annual high school all-star game.
The cagefest features 32 high school basketball teams, including champion teams from various leagues from all over the Philippines, as well as from Filipino communities based in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States of America.
Among the seeded entries are the recently crowned UAAP Juniors’ champion Ateneo De Manila, NCAA Juniors’ division titlist La Salle Greenhills, CESAFI kings University of Visayas and MMBL winner Chiang Kai Shek.
Earning wild cards berths are the squads from National University, Mapua, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo De Cebu, San Beda College, San Sebastian, Letran, Hope Christian High School, and Adamson, who all made podium finishes in their respective leagues. Peter Atencio
Also taking part in this massive tournament patterned after the NCAA tournament in the US are teams from Cagayan De Oro, Cavite, Davao, Kidapawan, Baguio, Roxas City, Calamba, Bataan, Bacolod, Ormoc, Dumaguete, Pagadian, Dagupan, and San Fernando.
The provincial squads joining will be competing with teams from the National Capital Region for Division 1 and 2 trophies.
The international and the wild card teams will battle teams from Bataan, Bacolod, Ormoc, Dumaguete, Pagadian, Dagupan and San Fernando in the seeding round on opening day.