RP-wide NBTC D-League kicks off

The National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League sponsored by Nokia has kicked off with eight Luzon-based teams taking the spotlight during the opening ceremonies held recently at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

NBTC director Eric Altamirano said the NBTC D-League envisions itself as a 16-and-under grassroots program that will also serve as a feeder program for varsity squads and teams catering to leagues such as the UAAP, NCAA, Philippine Basketball League, Philippine Basketball Association and the Liga Pilipinas. Players from the league will also be culled to form a team that will compete in the 16 and under FIBA-Asia tournament.

“NBTC’s vision is to build a basketball program that serves as a model for Philippine sports and contribute to nation-building by developing the core values necessary to create the greatest generation of Filipino Youth. Core values such as Love for country, passion for the game, Integrity, leadership and commitment to excellence,”said Altamirano, a former national player and former Purefoods champion coach during the opening ceremonies that was attended by the players, supporters, parents, local government officials and basketball stakeholders.

The opening rites were attended by Nokia marketing head Sandeep Khanna, Ito Lopa of TAO Corp., SBP project director Rajko Toroman and TAO Corp. Val Victa, among others. The tournament is under the wings of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas headed by telecoms mogul Manny Pangilinan and executive director Noli Eala.

In the games that followed Health Solutions-Laguna beat Quezon Power Lucena (70-37); B-MEG Batangas nipped Dasmariñas-Cavite (72-64), Quezon Power-Lucena beat B-MEG Batangas (86-64) and Health Solutions-Laguna beat Dasmariñas-Cavite (89-23) for the South Luzon games.

The North Luzon games saw the Lubao Bulls beat Olongapo (70-62); Tarlac beat Nueva Ecija Foundation (80-74); Nueva Ecija bested Olongapo (62-60) and Lubao Bulls routed Tarlac (73-37).

The players and coaches were formed through talent-identification camps. Through the help of LGU’s and private sectors, 29 city/club teams with eight teams each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and five teams from NCR are part of the first Nokia NBTC D-League boys divisions. For the girls, a separate tournament will be held in February.

To be featured in the Nov. 8 NCR opening are Antipolo, Manila, Quezon City and Pasig (BMEG Dynamix Calata) and Bulacan.

The Mindanao teams are Oro Grande-CDO (Cagayan de Oro), Team Misor (Misamis Oriental), Iligan Fireflies (Iligan City), Iligan Black Viper (Iligan City), Saints (General Santos), Energen (Davao), Megavia Southmin (Davao) and Montana Pawnshop (Davao).

The Visayas teams are Santos Petroleum Corp (Iloilo), Dumaguete Suy (Bacolod), IEC Computers (Bacolod), 888 Chinatown (Bacolod), Daisy Condensada (Cebu), M Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-South, M Lhulllier Kwarta Padala-North and Penshoppe (Cebu).