MANILA, Philippines - A total of 24 high school champion teams from all over the country, to be bracketed in two divisions, comprise the cast of the 2014 Seaoil NBTC League National High School Finals set March 6-9 at the Meralco gym and the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig.
Clashing in Division I are St. Francis of Assisi College (North Cavite), Sacred Heart School-Ateneo and University of San Carlos (Cebu), West Negros College (Bacolod), Iloilo Central Commercial High, Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori (Cagayan de Oro), Southern City College (Zamboanga) and qualifiers from the Metro Manila Basketball League (MMBL) Chiang Kai Shek, Hope Christian High and National University (Teams A and B).
In Division II are De La Salle-Lipa, Jesus the Loving Shepherd (Naga), University of the Cordilleras (Baguio), Divine Word Academy of Dagupan, Olongapo City National High, University of Assumption (San Fernando, Pampanga), Bethel Baptist Christian (Bukidnon) and MMBL’s College of San Benildo, Trinity University of Asia, Reedley International School and Jubilee Christian Academy.
Mandaue has yet to finish its provincial tournaments to pick its Division II representative in the tournament presented by Seaoil and backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Meralco, Smart, NLEX, Maynilad, Philex, The Philippine Star and Molten.
The Seaoil HS All Star-Game, along with the championship of Division 1 and Division 2 will be played March 9 at the Ynares Sports Arena and aired on BTV.
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“We’re all set. This is what everybody has been waiting for – the 24 best high school teams in the land,†said program director Eric Altamirano, who, along with national training director Alex Compton, oversees the entire project which serves as the official grassroots development program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“It’s going to be tough and at the same time exciting. It‘s always a challenge to compete with the best,†said Chiang Kai Shek coach Goldwin Monteverde, who tagged the NU Bullpups and Hope Christian as the teams to beat.
Provincial coaches Dennis Tumayan of West Negros University in Bacolod, Ias Bacalso of Cebu Sacred Heart School and Edgardo Dacoco of Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori in Cagayan de Oro are one in saying that all the odds are stacked in favor of the Manila teams but nonetheless vow to give them a good fight.