Chiang Kai Shek & Hope Christian tip off Seaoil NBTC Finals

Chiang Kai Shek and Hope Chiristian resume their rivalry as they highlight the first day of hoops for the Seaoil-NBTC National High School Championships at the Ynares Arena in Pasig.

The two schools have faced each other for a championship thrice in the past year, with Hope Christian claiming the last year's Tiong Lian title and Chiang Kai Shek claiming both the Fil-Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation Championship last August and the recently concluded Seaoil Metro Manila Basketball League.

With San Beda missing out and not making it to the finals proper, it is a wide-open race to the title. Tournament Director Ato Badolato believes that is a good sign as it means there is a sign of improvement with regards to the quality of players and coaches across the country.

Seaoil-NBTC National Program Director Eric Altamirano is excited for the finals to begin, as for him, this is the culmination of the months of preparation that took place all across the archipelago. The Seaoil-NBTC Finals serve as the highlight of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' grassroots program.

The 24 schools who are participating in the finals have been bracketed into two divisions:

Div I

Group A: Chiang Kai Shek, Hope Christian, National University-B
Group B: St. Francis of Assisi-Cavite, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, National University-A
Group C: West Negros, University of San Carlos, Iloilo Central Commercial
Group D: Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori (Cagayan de Oro), Assumption College-Davao, Southern City College (Zamboanga)

Div II

Group A: Olongapo City National, Assumption-Pampanga, Divine World Academy (Dagupan)
Group B: University of the Cordilleras (Baguio), Jesus the Loving Shepherd (Naga), La Salle-Lipa
Group C: Reedley International School, Mandaue, Bethel Baptist Christian (Bukidnon)
Group D: San Benildo, Trinity University of Asia, Jubilee Christian Academy.


In addition to the Chiang Kai Shek vs Hope Christian match, the other matches to be played today at Ynares are Iloilo Central vs West Negros at 1pm, followed by NU-A vs Sacred Heart at 3pm.

At the CCF gym, Olongapo National plays Assumption-Pampanga at 12nn, followed by Reedley vs Bethel Baptist.

Format is relatively simple, each group will play a single-round elimination. Top two teams advance to crossover quarterfinals (Group A vs Group B & Group C vs Group D). QF winners will advance to the crossover semifinals. The QF & SF will be played on March 8. The Div I & Div II finalists will face each other on March 9, which will then be followed by the third-ever Seaoil-NBTC High School All-Star Game.

The Seaoil-NBTC National High School Championships is backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Meralco, Smart, NLEX, Maynilad, Philex, Philippine Star and Molten.

Seaoil NBTC Finals and All-Star Game Finalized

This week, the best secondary school of the country will be determined, as 24 schools face-off in the Seaoil-NBTC National High School Championships.

Subdivided into Div I and Div II, the twelve schools were further separated into four groups of three teams. They will play a round-robin on March 6 and 7, with the top two teams moving on to the crossover quarterfinals. The top four teams will advance in the semifinals. Both the quarter and semis will be played on March 8, with the championships to be played on March 9.

Ynares Arena in Pasig will host the opening ceremonies (530pm on March 6) and finals (8am & 10am on March 9), as well as most of the games, while CCF, Treston, Meralco and Xavier will be the other venues for the fixtures.

DIVISION 1
A	B		C	D
CKSC	CAVITE		BACOLOD	CDO
HOPE	SHS (Ceb2)		USC (Ceb1)	DAVAO
NU-B	NU-A		ILOILO	ZAMBOANGA
DIVISION 2
A	B		C	D
OLONGAPO	BAGUIO		REEDLEY	S.BENILDO
PAMPANGA	NAGA		MANDAUE	TRINITY UNIV.
DAGUPAN	BATANGAS		BUKIDNON	JUBILEE

Meanwhile, 30 players who made the Seaoil NBTC High School All-Star Game will have scheduled training with Philippines U-16 team coach Jamike Jarin on March 7. The teams have been sorted already into the two teams, but no details have been available as to which team will JB Sison or Jeff Napa will handle.

Light (Seaoil Mako)

Mohammad SALIM (Chiang Kai Shek)
Ivan VILLANUEVA (Letran)
John APACIBLE (Hope Christian)
Jobert MERCADO (Hope Christian)
Arjan DELA CRUZ (Hope Christian)
Janhubert CANI (National University)
John Paul CAUILAN (National University)
Lorenzo BATTAD (National University)
Javee MOCON (San Beda)
Ranbill TONGCO (San Beda)
Michael CALISAAN (San Sebastian)
Jarell LIM (Xavier)
Allen DELOS SANTOS (Claret School - Zamboanga)
Glenn GALLARDO (Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori - Cagayan de Oro)
Keith Lowell PIDO (West Negros)

Dark (Seaoil Extreme)

Thirdy RAVENA (Ateneo)
Rashleigh Paolo RIVERO (La Salle Greenhills)
Richard ESCOTO (Far Eastern University)
Justin SERRANO (Malayan HS)
Manuel MOSQUEDA (National University)
Adven DIPUTADO (San Beda)
Arvin TOLENTINO (San Beda)
Alfren GAYOSA (San Sebastian)
Ryan Paule COSTELO (San Sebastian)
Renzo SUBIDO (La Salle-Zobel)
Diego Miguel DARIO (UPIS)
Isaac GO (Xavier)
Arnie PADILLA (Sacred Heart School - Cebu)
Joshua EDJAN (Hua Siong College - Iloilo)
Allyn BULANADI (Assumption College - Davao)

NBTC bares its Seaoil-NBTC National Finals, All-Star Game

On Monday, the National Basketball Training Center, the official grassroots program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), revealed its cast for the 3rd edition of the Seaoil-NBTC High School All-Star Game.

Led by a stellar cast that includes those who have already played for the Philippines in international competitions, the All-Star Game is arguably the showcase of the best high school senior talent in the country.

From over 60 high school standouts, the selection committee (led by legendary head coach Ato Badolato) pruned that down to 30 players to be divided into the Blue and White teams. No details were available as to the composition of the Blue Team and the White Team, but the committee has been tasked to handle the filtering process to ensure parity of talent with both teams.

JB Sison and Jeff Napa are tasked to be the coaches for this all-star game, which will take place on March 9 at the Ynares Arena in Pasig.

Gracing the press conference were Arvin Tolentino of San Beda, Hubert Cani and John Paul Cauilan of National University, and Mohammad Salim of Chiang Kai Shek. The high school standouts express confidence that they are going to put on a show and at the same time impress the college coaches and scouts that are expected to flock to the venue.

NBTC Program Director (and more known as the head coach of National University) Eric Altamirano believes that this is the best batch of All-Star participants, given its national pedigree. Tolentino, Thirdy Ravena and Paolo Rivero were part of the FIBA 3x3 team, while Richard Escoto, Diego Dario and Arnie Padilla were part of the team that finished 2nd in the FIBA-Asia U-16 tournament in Iran.

Here are the 30 players participating in the event:

Ateneo de Manila - Thirdy Ravena
Chiang Kai Shek - Mohammad Salim
Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Ivan Villanueva
La Salle Greenhills - Paolo Rivero
Far Eastern University - Richard Escoto
Hope Christian - John Apacible, Jobert Mercado, Arjan dela Cruz
Malayan HS - Justin Serrano
National University - Hubert Cani, Manuel Mosqueda, John Paul Cauilan, Lorenzo Battad
San Beda - Javee Mocon, Adven Diputado, Ranbill Tongco, Arvin Tolentino
San Sebastian - Michael Calisaan, Alfred Gayosa, Ryan Costelo, Ranzelle Yong
University of the Philippines - Diego Dario
Xavier School - Jarell Lim, Isaac Go
Claret School - Zamboanga - Allen delos Santos
Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori - Cagayan de Oro - Glenn Gallardo
Hua Siong College of Iloilo - Joshua Edjan
West Negros University - Keith Pido
Assumption College - Davao - Allyn Bulanadi
Sacred Heart School - Cebu - Arnie Padilla

Meanwhile, before the All-Star Game, the Seaoil-NBTC National Finals is scheduled to take place from March 6-9. 24 of the best high school teams in the country slug it out to see which is the best.

Among those highly fancied to win are National University, Hope Christian and former champions Sacred Heart School-Cebu.

The 2013 NBTC All-Star Showcase Rosters

NBTC Finals and All-Star Showcase on Tap

Top Row (L-R): Andre Paras, Jerie Pingoy, Clint Doliguez, Bong Quinto and Ralph Atangan
Bottom Row (L-R): Ato Badolato, Alex Compton, Sonny Barrios, Eric Altamirano

For the second year running, the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) will be having their All-Star Showcase at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.

Patterned after the McDonald's All-America game, it is a chance for thirty of the best high school players in the Philippines to strut their stuff and impress fans and coaches. Those who would be attending this game will have the chance to possibly see the future stars in the collegiate ranks.

The task of determining the composition of the team came down to the selection committee under the auspices of legendary coach Ato Badolato, with the help of the different coaches, particularly in the selection of the players from the provinces, of which eight of them made the showcase. One of those highly touted provincial players will not make the trip however, as Kib Montalbo of St. John's Institute in Bacolod (and committed to De La Salle University in the upcoming UAAP season) declined due to academic reasons.

In spite of Kib's absence, there will be an interesting set of incoming collegiate prospects on display. Headed by the likes of Jerie Pingoy of FEU, Ralph Atangan of NU, Andre Paras of LSGH, Clint Doliguez of Hope Christian, with FEU's Michael Oliver and San Beda's Britt Reroma handling the coaching duties for this All-Star Showcase.

The All-Star Showcase is not just the only NBTC event this weekend.

The weekend will be a witness to the crowning of the NBTC Finals, as sixteen teams duke it out to determine the best secondary school.

The sixteen schools are grouped into four groups, broken down below with their respective game skeds:

Group A: Hope Christian HS (NCR), Calayan Educational Foundation Inc. (Southern Luzon via Lucena),  St. Albert D' Great School (Northern Luzon via Dagupan) and West Negros University (Visayas via Bacolod)

Hope Christian vs West Negros - 3/1 8am at Ultra
CEF Inc. vs St. Albert D' Great - 3/1 1230pm at Ultra
West Negros vs CEF Inc. - 3/1 330pm at Ynares Arena
St. Albert D' Great vs Hope Christian - 3/1 5pm at Ynares Arena
St. Albert D' Great vs West Negros - 3/2 11am at Ynares Arena
CEF Inc. vs Hope Christian - 3/2 230pm at Ultra

Group B: San Beda (NCR), Faith Academy (NCR), Don Bosco Technical Institute (Northern Luzon via Tarlac) and Southern City College (Mindanao via Zamboanga)

San Beda vs DBTI - 3/1 930am at Ynares Arena
Southern City College vs San Beda - 3/1 2pm at Ultra
DBTI vs Faith Academy - 3/1 5pm at Ultra
Faith Academy vs San Beda - 3/2 930am at Ultra
Southern City College vs DBTI - 3/2 930 at Ynares
Faith Academy vs Southern City College - 3/2 230pm at Meralco Gym

Group C: National University (NCR), Sto. Domingo National HS (Southern Luzon via Legazpi), Iloilo Central Commercial HS (Visayas via Iloilo) and Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School (Mindanao via Cagayan de Oro)

NU vs ICCHS - 3/1 930am at Ultra
Sto. Domingo National vs Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori - 3/1 1230pm at Ynares Arena
Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori vs NU - 3/1 330pm at Ultra
ICCHS vs Sto. Domingo National HS - 3/2 8am at Ynares
Sto. Domingo National HS vs NU - 3/2 11am at Ultra
ICCHS vs Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori - 3/2 4pm at Ultra

Group D: Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (Visayas via Cebu), Christian Values School (Southern Luzon via Cavite), La Union (Northern Luzon via La Union) and Holy Child College (Mindanao via Davao)

SHS-Ateneo de Cebu vs Christian Values School - 3/1 8am at Ynares Arena
Christian Values School vs La Union - 3/1 2pm at Ynares Arena
Holy Child College vs SHS-Ateneo de Cebu - 3/2 8am at Ultra
SHS-Ateneo de Cebu vs La Union - 3/2 1pm at Ultra
Holy Child College vs Christian Values School - 3/2 1pm at Meralco Gym
La Union vs Holy Child College - 3/2 4pm at Meralco Gym

Each group will have a round robin, playing three times in a stretch of two days, as noted above. The school with the best record on each group will advance to the semifinals, which will be played on the morning of March 3, with Group A paired with Group D on one bracket to take place at the Ultra, while Group B and Group C paired on the other bracket and will be played at Ynares.

The winners of the semis would then play for the title of NBTC Champion on the afternoon of March 3, immediately after the All-Star Showcase at the Ynares Arena. 

Sacred Heart is looking to win this for the third year running now, although this year the Cebuanos will have to do it without Julius Cadavis and Henry Asilum.

2nd Seaoil High School All-Star Game scheduled this March

On March 3 at the Ynares Center in Pasig City, 32 of the best high school seniors in the country get to strut their stuff against each other in the second-ever staging of The Seaoil High School All-Star Game. To be held at the Ynares Center in Pasig on March 3, this is one of the highlights of the National Basketball Traning Center (NBTC) Finals.

NBTC Training Director Alex Compton notes the Seaoil High School All-Star Game as the premiere event to showcase the top high school basketball talent in the Philippines. He is excited to be seeing the best of the best competing against each other on a national stage, as not everyone is aware of their talent and thus, the Seaoil High School All-Star Game will become their stage.

To cite that point, it was at this event that the coaching staff of the University of the Philippines discovered then-Sacred Heart of Cebu standout Henry Asilum, whom they eventually recruited and was a major contributing element for the Maroons' campaign on this past 75th Season of the UAAP.

Patterned after the McDonald's All-Americans High School Game, the 1st-ever Seaoil High School All-Star Game had the likes of Jeron Teng (Xavier HS), Tomas Ramos (Ateneo HS), Thomas Torres (La Salle Greenhills) JJ Alejandro (Mapua HS) and Daryl Nazareno, Francis Abarcar, Van Abatayo, Gideon Babilonia, and Antonio Bonsubre (San Beda HS). The first MVP trophy went to Ace Basas (Mapua), as the currently Ateneo "Glory Be" member scored a game-high 24 points for Team White in a 87-81 victory over Team Blue.

The second-ever staging of the event will have the likes of Jerie Pingoy (FEU), Ralph Atangan (NU), Ranbill Tongco (San Beda HS) and Nicko Bahia (UST). Provincial standouts like current La Salle commit Kib Montalbo (St. John's Institute), as well as John Luna (Cagayan de Oro National High School) and Paul Desiderio (University of Visayas) will also make their presence felt in this game.

The game will provide the backdrop for the upcoming NBTC Finals, which is scheduled to also take place on March 3.

The NBTC Finals is a culmination of the competition to determine the best high school team in the country, with 200 schools taking part all across the islands.16 different high schools will make their way to Manila and in the first three days of March, that sixteen will eventually be whittled down to one.

SBP bares its grassroots program

The MVP-led Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) recently outlined their grassroots program involving the different high schools all across the archipelago, with the simple goal of improving the quality of the Filipino basketball player.

According to the SBP's Executive Director Sonny Barrios, the grassroots program includes the Eric Altamirano and Alex Compton-led Seaoil National Ball Training Center (NBTC), the 30-year old Metro Manila Basketball League (MMBL) under the auspices of Ato Badolato, the recently concluded Coaches Convention and the High School All-Star Game held earlier this year.

The six-year old NBTC aims to provide coaching and skills training to the different high school players all across the country. Concurrent to the skills and values development, according to Altamirano, is the identification of possible prospects for future call-ups to the national youth teams. The NBTC is also tasked with the responsibility of determining the best high schools in the country through its Elite League.

In connection with that, they recently tied up with the MMBL, which now virtually serves the NCR qualification portion for the NBTC Elite League. The 30-year old organization has pegged the top three teams in Division I and the champion of Division II to be NCR's representatives in the Elite League, as announced earlier this week.

Concurrent with the quest to discover the best high school players in the country, the SBP via the NBTC earlier this year launched its newest grassroots project, the first Seaoil High School All-Star Game. Inspired by the McDonald's All-American Basketball Game in the United States, it serves as a showcase all-star experience, gathering thirty of the best high school seniors together and showcasing their talents. Names like La Salle's Jeron Teng and Thomas Torres, as well as San Beda's Francis Abarcar, and Antonio Bonsubre participated, with the first All-Star Game MVP being given to current Ateneo "Glory Be" member Ace Basas.

The latest project of the SBP in relation to its grassroots campaign is the Coaches Convention, whose second staging was just conducted last month as the PhilSports Arena in Pasig in conjunction with the Manuel V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF). The gathering brought together 300 coaches from all over the country for a three-day camp, highlighted by sessions involving well-known bench tacticians like Tim Cone of the SanMig Coffee Mixers, his assistant (and Arellano University head coach) Koy Banal, and current TNT assistant Sandy Arespacochaga sharing their insights on running their different programs as well as teaching character, leadership and values formation that then can be passed on towards their respective players.

MVP Sports Foundation Coaches' Convention

Over 300 high school coaches from the SeaOil National Basketball Training Center Elite League will come together for a three-day Coaches Convention at the Philsports Arena from October 12-14, 2012.

The Coaches Convention, on its second year, is now a joint venture between the NBTC and the Manuel V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF) that aims to develop not just young basketball players but also young men steeped in values and leadership.

This year’s program is hosted by former Ateneo Blue Eagle LA Mumar and features San Mig Coffee Mixers head coach Tim Cone who will talk about defending the pick and roll; national team assistant coach Josh Reyes who will give instruction on the dribble drive offense; Arellano University head coach Koy Banal who will demonstrate the virtues of a full court pressure defense; Hercules Callanta who will talk about strength and conditioning, and Sandy Arespacochaga, assistant of the UAAP five-peat champions Ateneo de Manila who will provide a blueprint on building a basketball program.

Other coaches slated to take part in the seminar include former Powerade head coach and current UP consultant Bo Perasol, Ardy Abello, and NBTC Program Director and National University head coach Eric Altamirano.

Alex Compton, NBTC Training Director and now an assistant with the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association believes that the Coaches Convention will make a difference in the way the sport will be played in the future. “Some of the players will make the PBA but 98% will not. Our job is to teach these coaches and help them improve in their craft because this in turn will have a tremendous influence and impact on these young men for the rest of their lives.”

Current national team head coach, Chot Reyes, a speaker in last year’s coaches convention and now working with the MVPSF said: "The MVPSF is proud to partner with the NBTC in its efforts to develop the game Filipinos are so passionate about on a truly meaningful level. We believe that for any grassroots development to gain traction, the focus must be not only in training the youth nationwide, but more importantly, in equipping the coaches who will train these players to play this game the right way. ‘The right way’ on the technical side, is learning a style of play that will allow the Philippines to be competitive internationally. It also means developing the right values that will enable participants to reap the positives of sports - and the coaches play a major role in imparting these to the youth. Having been personally involved with the NBTC Coaches Convention as a resource speaker over the past few years, I have seen first-hand how their objectives align closely with the MVPSF's grassroots development thrust.

Schedule of the Coaches Convention is as follows:

October 12, 2012 Friday 4pm-845pm
Speaker: Tim Cone

October 13, 2012 Saturday 7am-6pm
Speakers: Bo Perasol, Josh Reyes, Eric Altamirano, Hercules and Luchie Callanta, and Ardy Abello.

October 14, 2012 Sunday 730am-1230pm
Speakers; Sandy Arespacochaga, Koy Banal, and Ardy Abello.

Seaoil High School All-Star Game this weekend

It is interesting that there really has not been a true showcase of the best high school players in the country. All we know of them are their exploits if you have seen them live in person in the different leagues. Now, the people behind the National Basketball Training Center will help you get to know the players in a first of its kind Philippine spectacle, the Seaoil High School All-Star Game, which will take place on Sunday, 11am at the Ynares Gym in Pasig.

Hundreds of graduating High School basketball standouts tried out, but only 30 were selected to participate. Six of those come from the provinces as recommended by the locals in their respective areas.The 30 names were then ranked by a group of basketball experts, which included Ato Badolato and current Youth Team coach Olsen Racela, and split evenly into two-15 man teams, which will be coached by the staff from either National University or San Beda College.

The event is intended to be about the kids and for the kids, as remarked by NBTC Technical Director Alex Compton. This is different from the Nike Elite Camps that had been shown previously as the Elite is more of instructional and that was composed of different age groups, unlike this particular event, which is tailored for incoming collegiate freshmen.

In addition, Rajko Toroman, who helmed SMART-Gilas previously and now serves as consultant with the SMC franchises, will also have a session with the 30 players.

It is expected that coaches and scouts from the different colleges and universities will be attending this event to check out the players, some of which have already declared where they will be attending college. There are still others who remain undecided as to where they will be pursuing further studies and take their athletic talents to.

Here are the players who will be participating in the 1st Seaoil High School All-Star Game


Light.                                                                  Dark
FRANCIS ABARCAR                             THOMAS TORRES
JOHN BOO                                              PAUL NIELES
KIM CINCO                                            JERON TENG
JJ ALEJANDRO                                       JASON LIGAD
DARYL NAZARENO                               KYLE SUAREZ
IAN CARLO VALDEZ                             GABRIEL REYES
MCJOUR LUIB                                        RALPH NAPA
ARIEL BASAS JR.                                   VAN ADAM ABATAYO
KEVIN BAYTAN                                     RICHIE VILLARUZ
BRIAN ILARDE                                       GIDEON BABILONIA
RALPH TANSINGCO                             ANTONIO BONSUBRE
TOMAS RAMOS                                     EDRIC ESTACIO
JULIUS CADAVIS.                                  JANMER GABITO
PAOLO JABINES                                    PAUL RAZEL RUBIN
RANDOLPH TORIÑO                            DAVE WILSON YU

Here is the picture of some of the players participating in the game, which was taken during their press conference held at the National Sports Grill yesterday. Joining them are current NU head coach Eric Altamirano, Alex Compton and SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios.