The 2023 NBTC National Finals was a basketball competition in the Philippines hosted by the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) to determine the champion for the 2022–2023 NBTC League season. It involved 24 high school teams, with 12 regional teams, four representatives from the UAAP Jrs. and NCAA Jrs., and eight global squads. The finals made its return after three years. It began on March 15, 2023, and ended on March 23. Also taking place during this time was the NBTC All-Star Game and several other side events.
The NUNS Bullpups won Division 1 for the third straight year, while Team Tarlac won Division 2.
Qualification This year's format involved high school teams and clubs going through local qualifiers tournaments (LQT). For this season, 144 teams participated in the LQTs. For teams based in the NCR, the UAAP Jrs. and NCAA Jrs. tournaments are used as qualifiers. Semifinalists would get to play in the NBTC finals, as the UAAP and NCAA finals happened on the same week.
Unlike past seasons, this edition of the NBTC Finals was open to club teams. All players must be born after January 1, 2004, and must have Filipino lineage.
For the first time, the NBTC Global Games were used to determine which international teams would qualify for the finals. These were held in Canada, USA, Italy (hosting for the European region), Australia, New Zealand, and Dubai from July to November. +Regional teams via LQTRegionQualifiedRef.CebuSacred Heart School (SHS) – Ateneo de Cebu LandmastersPampangaPampanga DeltaCentral LuzonTeam TarlacBaguioUniversity of Luzon (U of Luzon)CavitePhilippine Christian University (PCU)- DasmariñasKidapawanHoly Trinity College General SantosLagunaSaint Benilde International School (SBIS) CalambaNorthern MindanaoLevel Up Team Abro Max Ballers DavaoQuezonBatang Tiaong San AntonioVisayasRoyal Star Trading Don Bosco DumagueteQuezon City / CaloocanDoc Boleros Camanava NCRBatangasUniversity of Batangas (U of Batangas) Boys +NCR and international teamsEvent Date Location Vacancies QualifiedRef.NCR representatives from UAAP March 7–10, 2023Filoil EcoOil Centre 3 UAAP semifinalist- UST Tiger Cubs UAAP semifinalist- NUNS Bullpups
Ateneo Blue EagletsNCR representatives from NCAAMarch 6–9, 2023San Andres Sports Complex, Manila1NCAA semifinalist- San Beda Red Cubs NCAA semifinalist- Mapua Red RobinsGlobal teams 8 USA- Team United USA- Fil-Nation Select
Canada- Toronto Canada- WinnipegAustralia- Homegrown CrusadersNew Zealand- Pinoy MavsEurope- Rome Elite ItalyUAE- Dubai Patriots San Beda was replaced by Ateneo as San Beda begged off. At the end of qualifying, 24 teams remained.
Tournament format All teams played in the Super 24 round. This determined the divisions they would play in, with winners playing in Division 1, while losers playing in Division 2. Each division will then be placed into four groups of three and play a round-robin (also known as the Magic 12). Top teams then advance to the semis and then the Division 1 and 2 championships. At the end of the tournament, a player would receive the Most Outstanding Player award, which for the first time was named after former NBTC tournament commissioner Ato Badolato.
Seeding round
15 March 2023SHS – Ateneo de Cebu99–54Rome Elite ItalyMall of Asia Arena, PasayUST66–62Team TarlacMall of Asia Arena, PasayWinnipeg86–72Team United USAMall of Asia Arena, PasayToronto83–63SBISMall of Asia Arena, PasayFil-Am Nation Select116–60Doc BolerosMall of Asia Arena, PasayNUNS93–68PCU - DasmariñasMall of Asia Arena, PasayBatang Tiaong64–41AteneoMall of Asia Arena, PasayPinoy Mavs83–79Holy TrinityMall of Asia Arena, PasayTeam Abro111–74U of LuzonMall of Asia Arena, PasayDubai Patriots66–65U of BatangasMall of Asia Arena, PasayMapua92–85Don Bosco- DumagueteMall of Asia Arena, PasayPampanga Delta84–81Homegrown AustraliaMall of Asia Arena, Pasay
Magic 12
Division 1
Pool A
+TeamPldWLNUNS320Pampanga Delta311Team Abro302 March 16, 2023Pampanga Delta94–63Team AbroNUNS89–71Team AbroMarch 17, 2023NUNS94–52Pampanga Delta
Pool B
+TeamPldWLUST320Toronto311Dubai Patriots302 March 16, 2023Toronto70–63Dubai PatriotsUST77–47Dubai PatriotsMarch 17, 2023UST66–65Toronto
Pool C
+TeamPldWLSHS – Ateneo de Cebu320Mapua311Winnipeg302 March 16, 2023Mapua81–77WinnipegSHS – Ateneo de Cebu100–79WinnipegMarch 17, 2023Mapua75–90SHS – Ateneo de Cebu
Pool D
+TeamPldWLFil-Nation Select320Batang Tiaong311Pinoy Mavs302 March 16, 2023Batang Tiaong67–53Pinoy MavsFil-Nation Select93–61Pinoy MavsMarch 17, 2023Batang Tiaong 79–91Fil-Nation Select
Division 2
Pool A
+TeamPldWLHomegrown Australia320PCU - Dasmariñas311U of Luzon302 March 16, 2023Homegrown Australia96–75U of LuzonPCU - Dasmariñas104–71U of LuzonMarch 17, 2023Homegrown Australia 75–72PCU - Dasmariñas
Pool B
+TeamPldWLTeam Tarlac320SBIS311U of Batangas302 March 16, 2023Team Tarlac96–56U of BatangasSBIS79–78U of BatangasMarch 17, 2013Team Tarlac78–60SBIS
Pool C
+TeamPldWLDon Bosco320Team United311Rome Elite302 March 16, 2023Don Bosco98–91Team UnitedRome Elite53–85Team UnitedMarch 17, 2023Don Bosco 95–58Rome Elite
Pool D
+TeamPldWLAteneo320Doc Boleros311Holy Trinity302 March 16, 2023Doc Boleros66–61Holy TrinityAteneo77–58Holy TrinityMarch 17, 2023Ateneo74–65Doc Boleros
Knockout stage
Division 1
Finals
Division 2
Finals
All-Star Game
Selection The National Basketball Training Center selected and ranked 24 of the best high school prospects in the NCAA and UAAP juniors, and CESAFI high school tournament. They were added to the lineups of Team Heart and Team Hustle. On March 7, 2023, Jared Bahay became the first non-UAAP and non-NCAA player to be ranked #1. He and Luis Pablo (ranked #2) led Team Heart and Team Hustle, respectively. 16-year old Kieffer Alas was selected as NBTC's youngest-ever All-Star. +2024 NBTC All-StarsRankPlayerLeagueTeam#1Jared BahayCESAFISHS – Ateneo#2Luis PabloNCAALSGH#3Reinhard JumamoyUAAPNUNS#4Andy GemaoNCAALetran#5Seven GagateNCAALSGH#6Kristian PorterUAAPAteneo#7Rhyle MelencioUAAPDLSZ#8Matthew RubicoNCAALPU#9Peter RosilloUAAPAdamson#10Chris HubillaNCAASan Beda#11Amiel AcidoNCAAPerpetual#12Lebron NietoUAAPAteneo#13Janrey PasaolUAAPFEU#14Kobe DemisanaUAAPUPIS#15SJ MooreNCAAArellano#16Jonathan ManaliliNCAALetran#17RJ ColoniaUAAPNUNS#18Kieffer AlasUAAPDLSZ#19Mark LlemitUAAPUST#20Andrei DungoNCAASan Beda#21Raffy CelisCESAFISHS – Ateneo#22Veejay PreUAAPFEU#23Mat EddingUAAPFEU#24Jonas NapalangUAAPFEUAdditionsNameTeamLorence dela CruzWinnipegCaelum HarrisFil-Nation SelectJohn MoralesBatang TiaongMichael AsoroSHS – AteneoJacob BaylaFil-Nation SelectJason MandaquitFil-Nation SelectVhoris MarasiganBatang Tiaong
Lineups +Team HeartPlayerTeamStartersJared BahaySHS – AteneoChris HubillaSan BedaJonas NapalangFEUMark LlemitUSTSeven GagateLSGHReservesVeejay PreFEUMat EddingFEUJason MandaquitFil-Am Nation SelectJonathan ManaliliLetranRJ ColoniaNUNSLebron NietoAteneoMatthew RubicoLPURhyle MelencioDLSZJacob BaylaFil-Am Nation SelectMichael AsoroSHS – AteneoVhoris MarasiganBatang TiaongHead coach: TY Tang (CSB)+Team HustlePlayerTeamStartersKieffer AlasDLSZReinhard JumamoyNUNSAmiel AcidoPerpetualSJ MooreArellanoKristian PorterAteneoReservesLuis PabloLSGHAndy GemaoLetranCaelum HarrisFil-Am Nation SelectRaffy CelisSHS – AteneoPeter RosilloAdamsonJanrey PasaolFEUKobe DemisanaUPISAndrei DungoSan BedaJohn MoralesBatang TiaongLorence dela CruzWinnipegHead coach: Cholo Villanueva (LSGH)
Game
Other side events
Skills challenge: Kristian Porter Three-Point Shootout: John Rex Villanueva Slam Dunk Contest: Lorence dela Cruz
Awards
Division 1
Ato Badolato Most Outstanding Player: Reinhard Jumamoy (NUNS) Finals Most Outstanding Player: Reinhard Jumamoy (NUNS) Best Defensive Player: Eian Lowe (Fil-Am Nation Select) Mythical Five: +Division 1 Mythical FiveNameTeamReinhard JumamoyNazareth School of National University BullpupsJason MandaquitFil-Nation SelectRJ ColoniaNazareth School of National University BullpupsJared BahaySHS – Ateneo de Cebu LandmastersRaffy CelisSHS – Ateneo de Cebu Landmasters
Division 2
Ato Badolato Most Outstanding Player: Earl Sapasap (Team Tarlac) Finals Most Outstanding Player: Earl Sapasap (Team Tarlac) Mythical Five: +Division 2 Mythical FiveNameTeamEarl SapasapTeam TarlacMatthew JucomDon BoscoLebron Nieto Ateneo Blue EagletsKaden PulutuaHomegrown Australia CrusadersSean BondocDoc Boleros NCR
Notes
References