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.
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.
