The UST Tiger Cubs will participate in the 2023 SM National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) National Championships, which will return on March 15-19 after a three-year hiatus.
The Tiger Cubs are scheduled to compete against a total of 23 teams, which consist of international, provincial, UAAP, and NCAA squads.
UST head coach Jinino Manansala said the league would be important to maximize his players’ development.
“Gusto ko mabigyan ng exposure ‘yung mga nasa reserves naman. Hindi pa rin nagbabago ang goal, ang goal namin is to make it sa Final Four. Pagbubutihan namin itong NBTC,” Manansala told the Varsitarian.
In previous editions of NBTC, prominent Filipino athletes such as Jalen Green, who now plays for the Houston Rockets in the NBA, participated, and he was recognized as the Most Valuable Player in 2019. Green also holds the current record for the highest number of points scored in a single game, which is 51 points against San Beda.
Other notable NBTC participants include Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano, and Terrence Fortea.
The five-day league will commence on March 15, and the “Super 24” teams will participate in a classification contest to determine their division. The teams will be split into two divisions, namely Division 1 and Division 2.
The winners on the first day of the tournament will then proceed to the “Magic 12,” which be held from March 16 to 17.
After a series of rounds, the teams who will emerge victorious will play on the “Fearless Four” on March 18.
The NBTC will hold an all-star game on March 19, which coincides with the finals. All-star festivities include a slam dunk contest, a three-point contest, and a skills challenge.
Tiger Cub Mark Llemit will play for Team Heart in the all-star game alongside other UAAP juniors standouts in De La Salle-Zobel forward Rhyle Melencio and University of the Philippines Integrated School’s John Napalang.
UST will open its NBTC campaign against the Team Tarlac on Wednesday, March 15, 10:30 a.m., at the One E-Com Center in Pasay.
