Tolentino, Ravena lead NBTC All-Star roster

MANILA, Philippines - Arvin Tolentino and Thirdy Ravena, members of the FIBA Under-18 3x3 World Championship team, and national youth standout Hubert Cani lead 30 high school stars seeing action in the 2014 Seaoil NBTC League All-Star Game on March 9 at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig. 

The event serves as the highlight of the Seaoil NBTC League National High School finals, the official grassroots development program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas which is backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Meralco, Smart, NLEX, Maynilad, Philex and Molten, on March 6-9.

“SBP is fully behind NBTC’s All-Stars and we laud and appreciate its efforts to actively make significant contributions to our grassroots development programs through the years,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.

Seaoil marketing head Art Cruz paid tribute to the program’s role in helping promote youth development in the country.

“We thank the NBTC for giving us this opportunity to play a major role in the development of our youth through sports,” Cruz said. “It is of even greater significance that through the SEAOIL-NBTC partnership, we not only enhance their talent in basketball, we also develop their character and leadership, which are important to help mold these young men into mature and responsible individuals. We look forward to the day that they play a major role in leading our country through sports or in any other fields.”

Multi-titled high school coach Ato Badolato, head of the selection committee, went through a fine-tooth comb during the two-day tryout last week to pick the cream of the crop from among this year’s talents.

“This season’s batch was the best in years and the selection committee had a difficult time in its final roster,” said Badolato, longtime mentor of the San Beda Red Cubs.

Last year All-Star Game saw the Letran Squires’ Rey Nambatac, Kyles Lao of Xavier and Jerie Pingoy of Far Eastern University putting on a show before moving on.