Team Khalifa vows to make Cebuanos proud

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu’s Team Khalifa girds for a gargantuan mission as they represent Visayas in the 2024 Smart-National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) National Finals presented by SM Supermalls slated on March 18-24 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Composed mostly of cagers from the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars with reinforcements from the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, and Indiana Aerospace University (IAU), Team Khalifa earned a ticket to the Nationals after reigning supreme in last month’s regional championship held in Bacolod City.

Head coach Melo Banua of the USJ-R Baby Jaguars gamely admitted that having players from different schools poses a big challenge for them.

“For the National Finals, we are doing what we have done for the local qualifiers and regional championship. The coaches have been watching the games of the other teams, the players are practicing plays, etc. But since the players have different varsity teams, we have not practiced as a team as often as we have planned. That’s our challenge right now. Even so, we will give it our best shot,” Banua shared.

In the highly anticipated grand finale, Team Khalifa of team owner Atty. Francis Tolibas will see action alongside the UAAP and NCAA’s finalists, 10 teams from NBTC’s global partners in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, four qualifiers from South Luzon, and two wildcard entries from the Philippine Under 19 Championship.

“As a coach, I will prepare the kids for the challenging games ahead to the best of my ability. I am a hundred percent with the team as we embark on this NBTC journey,” Banua continued.

The road ahead may be rough and rocky for Team Khalifa but Banua vows to make a good account of themselves in the week-long tournament.

“All of us in the team, from the players to the coaching staff, want the same - to execute our plays really well, to enjoy and win all our games, and to make the Province of Cebu and the whole Visayas proud of us,” Banua ended. – EBV