Hope Christian, CKS renew feud in NBTC finals

MANILA, Philippines - Tiong Lian rivals Chiang Kai Shek College and Hope Christian High rekindle their feud today as they clash in the 2014 Seaoil NBTC League National High School Finals at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig.

The rematch of the Seaoil-Metro Manila Basketball League finals is set at 6 p.m. after the 5:30 p.m. opening ceremony of the event which serves as the official grassroots development program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. 

CKSC, behind Mohammed Salim and Van Pilanga, downed Hope Christian, 82-75, in the championship at the San Beda gym last month.

“What better way to kick off this event than to have Chiang Kai Shek and Hope Christian meet in a rematch of the MMBL Finals,” said Seaoil NBTC national program director Eric Altamirano. “We’re all excited. This is the culmination of all those months of preparation, from the provincial eliminations to the citywide championships. This truly is the national finals and we welcome you all.”

The event is backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Meralco, Smart, NLEX, Maynilad, Philex, The Philippine STAR and Molten.

Division I bracketing in the national finals is as follows: A: Chiang Kai Shek, Hope Christian, NU-B; B: St. Francis of Assisi-Cavite, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo (Cebu 2), NU-A; C: West Negros (Bacolod), University of San Carlos (Cebu 1), Iloilo Central Commercial; D: Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori (Cagayan de Oro), Assumption College-Davao, Southern City College (Zamboanga).

Division II groupings: A: Olongapo City National, Assumption-Pampanga, Divine World Academy (Dagupan); B: University of the Cordilleras (Baguio), Jesus the Loving Shepherd (Naga), De La Salle-Lipa, C: Reedley International School,. Mandaue, Bethel Baptist Christian (Bukidnon); D: MMBL’s San Benildo, Trinity University of Asia and Jubilee Christian Academy.

Other Division I inaugural day games have Iloilo Central taking on West Negros at 1 p.m. and NU-A facing Sacred Heart-Ateneo of Cebu at 3 p.m.

Over at the CCF gym, Division II matches have Olongapo National meeting Assumption-Pampanga at 12 noon and Reedley battling Bethel Baptist-Bukidnon at 2 p.m.

The format calls for teams from each group in both divisions to play a single round elimination. The top two teams advance to the crossover quarterfinals in an A vs B and C vs D affair. The four winners then meet in another crossover fashion in the semifinals to decide the finalists for both divisions.