The Smart-National Basketball Training Center takes the game closer to aspiring athletes with its regional finals.
NBTC program director Eric Altamirano said during a press conference Thursday that doing so spreads the challenge and invites more schools and teams to participate and showcase their talent.
With the National Finals set at the Mall of Asia Arena, which was the setting of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup final last August, Altamirano also said stepping foot on the same court that was played by world-class stars is something every aspiring player around the country dreams of.
“It’s about time we expand the glory of the National Finals to the regions. This is the NBTC’s way of upping the ante as we aim to discover more Filipino talents from the provinces,” Altamirano said, who said qualifers for each regional championships are currently underway.
“We want to put the spotlight on the regional players. They are still students but the prize that they are eyeing is the opportunity to play in the MOA Arena based on our previous tournaments.”
Laoag will kick off the four-part regional series, with Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Manotoc hosting the North Luzon RC at Centennial Arena from 18 to 21 January 2024.
Following suit will be the Mindanao RC to be held at Sarangani Sports Training Center from 1 to 4 February and hosted by Gov. Rogelio Pacquiao, the Visayas RC at the Cebu Coliseum from 15 to 18 February and hosted by Cebu Landmasters and the South Luzon RC at the Batangas City Sports Center from 29 February to 3 March and will be hosted by Mayor Beverley Rose A. Dimacuha-Mariño and University of Batangas.
The semifinalists of each RC will book their tickets to the National Finals, which will be held at SM Mall of Asia Arena from 18 to 24 March.
