24 squads dispute Seaoil NBTC crown

MANILA, Philippines – The Seaoil National Basketball Training Center League National High School Championship unfurls Thursday with 24 of the country's top schools battling each other for the prestigious crown at the Ynares Center in Pasig City.

National Capital Region's powerhouse teams Chiang Kai Shek and Hope Christian School will battle each other at 5:30 p.m. in first division Group A match of this annual tournament bankrolled by Seaoil and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas aiming to discover talents from the grassroots level.

"Our goal is to really give schools not just from Metro Manila but from all over the country a chance to compete against the best in the best and hopefully discover some untapped talents," said NBTC chief Eric Altamirano.

Iloilo takes on Bacolod at 1 p.m. while Sacred Heart of Cebu tangles with National U A at 3 p.m. before the league's opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

Also on tap on Day One are second division matches pitting Olongapo against Pampanga at 12 noon and Reedley versus Bukidnon at 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, all Seaoil All-Star participants will be having a training session with FIBA World Championship-bound national U-17 coach Jamike Jarin will hold a training session on Friday at 7 p.m. also at the Ynares.

It will be followed by the practice sessions by the two contending teams to be coached by Jeff Napa of NU and JB Sison of San Beda, who steered their respective schools to the UAAP and NCAA championships, respectively.

It was announced that La Salle-Greenhills standout Henri Lorenzo Subido has been tapped in the last minute to play in the All-Star as he will replaced San Sebastian's Rhanzelle Yong, who begged off due to illness.

There will be 12 teams per division, which were grouped to four with the top two squads in each bracket advancing to the quarterfinals.

The winners of the knockout quarters will battle each other in the crossover semis with the two triumphant teams playing for the title.