SBP executive lauds Nokia D-League

MANILA, Philippines - Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala lauded the Nokia National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) League for giving rise to the most successful youth team yet in recent years during the under-16 league’s opening ceremonies at the Jacinto Tiu Gym at the Xavier Sports Center in San Juan City.

Eala pointed out to the Nokia NBTC D-League’s slogan of “developing skills, building character and raising leaders” as the main reason why the Nokia RP U16 team placed a fighting fourth in the Fiba Asia U16 Championships recently in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

“Philippine basketball has not had this shot in the arm in a long while,”said Eala,who added the 108-team Nokia NBTC D-League sponsored by San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Smart Communications and Burlington has allowed aspiring players to learn and be better basketball players.

Eala pointed out to the important function of the Nokia NBTC, which is to be the feeder program to the men’s team. The Nokia NBTC D-League is also geared towards the development fundamentally-sound players for leagues like the UAAP, NCAA, PBL, PBA and the Liga Pilipinas.