The Manila Times

NBTC national qualifiers underway

NIEL VICTOR MASOY

AFTER being shelved for more than two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) national championship qualifiers are officially underway.

NBTC returned with its qualifiers last July with Canada and USA’s Global Games sending two teams — Winnipeg and Team United, respectively — to Manila next year for the tournament’s 13th national championship.

Italy’s Global Games will be up next in September, and will then be followed by Australia, New Zealand and UAE.

“We’re so happy and so excited that, finally, we’re here again and we’re back to set up a stage for young Filipinos to shine,” said NBTC program director Eric Altamirano.

A total of 24 slots is set to be filled with the UAAP and NCAA junior champions automatically qualifying for the national championship, which is tentatively set in April 2023 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Local qualifying tournaments will take place for provincial teams from November to January next year.

Albay, Baguio, Cavite, Cebu, La Union, Kidapawan, Northern Mindanao, Quezon, Rizal, and the Central Luzon cluster of Bataan, Bulacan, Olongapo, Pampanga and Tarlac have committed to organizing qualifying tournaments, where a total of 144 teams are expected to see action.

Unlike before, the NBTC’s 13th season will no longer be confined to school-based squads, and will now be open to club teams. All who wish to play, however, must present proof of age (should not be born before Jan. 1, 2004) and nationality (should have Filipino lineage).

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2022-08-05T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-05T07:00:00.0000000Z

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The Manila Times