MANILA, Philippines – Incoming Ateneo Blue Eagles rookie Jared Bahay is the first guard to top the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) rankings for two years in a row.
Bahay, who earlier committed to Ateneo for college, topped the NBTC rankings for the second year in a row.
Only former Ateneo Blue Eaglet, center Kai Sotto ranked first in the list for back-to-back years.
The 18-year-old playmaker was the first-ever non-UAAP and non-NCAA player to top the NBTC rankings.
The playmaker out of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu will be spearheading a historic six-player contingent from regions across the country, who will be going head-to-head at the Mall of Asia Arena on March 23.
No. 2 on the list is Kieffer Alas of La Salle Zobel.
Coming in third is presumptive NCAA Season 99 juniors Most Valuable Player Amiel Acido of Perpetual Help.
Rounding up the top five are UST’s Andrei Dungo and Adamson’s Tebol Garcia.
Titing Manalili of Letran, Vince Reyes of Adamson, Ports Porter of Ateneo, George Diamante of Letran and Veejay Pre of FEU complete the top 10.
Making it to the top 24 are Perpetual’s Jhames Daep, SHS-Ateneo’s Jelomar Rota, Emilio Aguinaldo College’s EJ Castillo, UE’s John Alejandro, Mapua’s Lawrence Mangubat, NU-NS’s Macmac Alfanta, Perpetual’s Mark Gojo Cruz, San Sebastian’s Ruvic Danag, UPIS’ Daryl Valdeavilla, UST’s Wacky Ludovice, Davao’s Andre Lumanag, Yengskivel Sportswear CAMANAVA’s Jevy Hinoguin, Batang Tiaong-Quezon’s Renz Apor and Khalifa-Cebu’s Peter John Pateros.
"This is further proof that grassroots basketball is alive and well in the Philippines, and hopefully, as NBTC continues to grow and get stronger, we get more and more promising prospects all over the country," NBTC program director Eric Altamirano said.
Stars both international and regional will also be included in lineups for Team Heart and Team Hustle.
The 2024 NBTC National Finals will likewise witness an All-Star Game from the Manila Live girls tournament, as well as the first-ever Manila Showcase, which would pit the top players from Manila Live against the other standouts of the National Finals.