NBTC Visayas regional finals: Team Khalifa ready for title defense

CEBU, Philippines — Team Khalifa is primed and ready to defend its crown in the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Visayas Regional Championships 2025 slated on February 27 to March 2 at the Tay Tung High School Gym in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Under the guidance of coach Julius Cadavis, the Khalifa squad is composed of rising players from the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) bannered by University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars skipper Judd Kyle Rueda alongside his teammates Chan Bennedict Brigoli, Lloyd Amadeo Gutang, Chancy Arfernny Ilustrisimo, John Lloyd Mejares, John Onin Noynay, and Alcher Obra.

They will combine forces with Daniell Chase Mapula of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Baby Wildcats, Jake Lordwin Yong, Jayver Palco, and Jehu Syx Romanos of the University of Cebu Baby Webmasters, Johncel Borjal of the UC Webmasters, Jerome Arboiz of the Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (CRMC) Mustangs, and John Rick Cometa.

Audric Garciso, a 17-year-old standout based in Florida, is also in Khalifa’s lineup.

“We are prepared. Lisud-lisud siya at first kay we are composed of players from different schools but ang nakanindot kay paspas ra sila nakasabot sa sistema nga ako gi-implement sa team. Pasalamat ra sad ko sa mga respective schools kay gisugtan sila na makaduwa sa among team,” said Cadavis.

“Ang amo ikapasalig nga ihatag gyud ang among best every game kay we are representing Cebu and Khalifa,” added Cadavis, who was honored as one of the “13 Greatest NBTC Players of All Time”.

At the four-day Regional Finals, Team Khalifa will be joined by the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers and the USJ-R Baby Jaguars, who qualified after topping the Khalifa Cup:NBTC Cebu Qualifying Tournament last December, and 17 other teams from all over Visayas and Palawan. — (FREEMAN)