# 2023 NBTC National Finals

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 LQT :
| Region | Qualified |
| Cebu | Sacred Heart School (SHS) – Ateneo de Cebu Landmasters |
| Pampanga | Pampanga Delta |
| Central Luzon | Team Tarlac |
| Baguio | University of Luzon (U of Luzon) |
| Cavite | Philippine Christian University (PCU)- Dasmariñas |
| Kidapawan | Holy Trinity College General Santos |
| Laguna | Saint Benilde International School (SBIS) Calamba |
| Northern Mindanao | Level Up Team Abro Max Ballers Davao |
| Quezon | Batang Tiaong San Antonio |
| Visayas | Royal Star Trading Don Bosco Dumaguete |
| Quezon City / Caloocan | Doc Boleros Camanava NCR |
| Batangas | University of Batangas (U of Batangas) Boys |
NCR and International Teams :
| Event | Date | Location | Vacancies | Qualified |
| NCR representatives from UAAP | March 7–10, 2023 | Filoil EcoOil Centre | 3 | UAAP semifinalist- UST Tiger Cubs UAAP semifinalist- NUNS Bullpups Ateneo Blue Eaglets |
| NCR representatives from NCAA | March 6–9, 2023 | San Andres Sports Complex, Manila | 1 | NCAA semifinalist- San Beda Red Cubs NCAA semifinalist- Mapua Red Robins |
| Global teams | Global teams | Global teams | 8 | USA- Team United USA- Fil-Nation Select Canada- Toronto Canada- Winnipeg Australia- Homegrown Crusaders New Zealand- Pinoy Mavs Europe- Rome Elite Italy UAE- 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 2023 | | | |
| SHS – Ateneo de Cebu | 99–54 | Rome Elite Italy | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| UST | 66–62 | Team Tarlac | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| Winnipeg | 86–72 | Team United USA | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| Toronto | 83–63 | SBIS | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| Fil-Am Nation Select | 116–60 | Doc Boleros | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| NUNS | 93–68 | PCU - Dasmariñas | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| Batang Tiaong | 64–41 | Ateneo | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| Pinoy Mavs | 83–79 | Holy Trinity | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| Team Abro | 111–74 | U of Luzon | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| Dubai Patriots | 66–65 | U of Batangas | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| Mapua | 92–85 | Don Bosco- Dumaguete | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |
| Pampanga Delta | 84–81 | Homegrown Australia | Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay |

## Magic 12
### Division 1
#### Pool A

| Team | Pld | W | L |
| NUNS | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Pampanga Delta | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Team Abro | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| March 16, 2023 |
| Pampanga Delta | 94–63 | Team Abro |
| NUNS | 89–71 | Team Abro |
| 2 August 2013 |
| NUNS | 94–52 | Pampanga Delta |

#### Pool B

| Team | Pld | W | L |
| UST | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Toronto | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Dubai Patriots | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| March 16, 2023 |
| Toronto | 70–63 | Dubai Patriots |
| UST | 77–47 | Dubai Patriots |
| 2 August 2013 |
| UST | 66–65 | Toronto |

#### Pool C

| Team | Pld | W | L |
| SHS – Ateneo de Cebu | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Mapua | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Winnipeg | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| March 16, 2023 |
| Mapua | 81–77 | Winnipeg |
| SHS – Ateneo de Cebu | 100–79 | Winnipeg |
| 2 August 2013 |
| Mapua | 75–90 | SHS – Ateneo de Cebu |

#### Pool D

| Team | Pld | W | L |
| Fil-Nation Select | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Batang Tiaong | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Pinoy Mavs | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| March 16, 2023 |
| Batang Tiaong | 67–53 | Pinoy Mavs |
| Fil-Nation Select | 93–61 | Pinoy Mavs |
| 2 August 2013 |
| Batang Tiaong | 79–91 | Fil-Nation Select |

### Division 2
#### Pool A

| Team | Pld | W | L |
| Homegrown Australia | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| PCU - Dasmariñas | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| U of Luzon | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| March 16, 2023 |
| Homegrown Australia | 96–75 | U of Luzon |
| PCU - Dasmariñas | 104–71 | U of Luzon |
| March 17, 2023 |
| Homegrown Australia | 75–72 | PCU - Dasmariñas |

#### Pool B

| Team | Pld | W | L |
| Team Tarlac | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| SBIS | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| U of Batangas | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| March 16, 2023 |
| Team Tarlac | 96–56 | U of Batangas |
| SBIS | 79–78 | U of Batangas |
| March 17, 2013 |
| Team Tarlac | 78–60 | SBIS |

#### Pool C

| Team | Pld | W | L |
| Don Bosco | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Team United | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Rome Elite | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| March 16, 2023 |
| Don Bosco | 98–91 | Team United |
| Rome Elite | 53–85 | Team United |
| March 17, 2023 |
| Don Bosco | 95–58 | Rome Elite |

#### Pool D

| Team | Pld | W | L |
| Ateneo | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Doc Boleros | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Holy Trinity | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| March 16, 2023 |
| Doc Boleros | 66–61 | Holy Trinity |
| Ateneo | 77–58 | Holy Trinity |
| March 17, 2023 |
| Ateneo | 74–65 | Doc Boleros |

## Knockout stage
### Division 1

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | UST | 66 | | | |
| 4 | Fil-Nation Select | 74 | | | |
| 4 | Fil-Nation Select | 74 | Fil-Nation Select | Fil-Nation Select | 88 |
| | | | NUNS | NUNS | 77 |
| 3 | SHS – Ateneo de Cebu | 90 | NUNS | NUNS | 77 |
| 2 | NUNS | 91 | | | |

#### Finals

* NBTC Facebook page & Smart Sports
* March 19 5:00 pm
* Recap
Fil-Nation Select 64, NUNS 75 :
| Pts: Jason Mandaquit 18 | Pts: RJ Colonia 23 |
* Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay

### Division 2

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Team Tarlac | 86 | | | |
| 4 | Ateneo | 77 | | | |
| 4 | Ateneo | 77 | Team Tarlac | Team Tarlac | 86 |
| | | | Don Bosco | Don Bosco | 84 |
| 3 | Don Bosco | 82 | Don Bosco | Don Bosco | 84 |
| 2 | Homegrown Australia | 58 | | | |

#### Finals

* NBTC Facebook page & Smart Sports
* March 19 3:30 pm
* Recap
Team Tarlac 86, Don Bosco 84 :
| Pts: Kit Bonus 21 | Pts: MJ Hendric Vailoces |
* Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay

## 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.
2024 NBTC All-Stars :
| Rank | Player | League | Team |
| #1 | Jared Bahay | CESAFI | SHS – Ateneo |
| #2 | Luis Pablo | NCAA | LSGH |
| #3 | Reinhard Jumamoy | UAAP | NUNS |
| #4 | Andy Gemao | NCAA | Letran |
| #5 | Seven Gagate | NCAA | LSGH |
| #6 | Kristian Porter | UAAP | Ateneo |
| #7 | Rhyle Melencio | UAAP | DLSZ |
| #8 | Matthew Rubico | NCAA | LPU |
| #9 | Peter Rosillo | UAAP | Adamson |
| #10 | Chris Hubilla | NCAA | San Beda |
| #11 | Amiel Acido | NCAA | Perpetual |
| #12 | Lebron Nieto | UAAP | Ateneo |
| #13 | Janrey Pasaol | UAAP | FEU |
| #14 | Kobe Demisana | UAAP | UPIS |
| #15 | SJ Moore | NCAA | Arellano |
| #16 | Jonathan Manalili | NCAA | Letran |
| #17 | RJ Colonia | UAAP | NUNS |
| #18 | Kieffer Alas | UAAP | DLSZ |
| #19 | Mark Llemit | UAAP | UST |
| #20 | Andrei Dungo | NCAA | San Beda |
| #21 | Raffy Celis | CESAFI | SHS – Ateneo |
| #22 | Veejay Pre | UAAP | FEU |
| #23 | Mat Edding | UAAP | FEU |
| #24 | Jonas Napalang | UAAP | FEU |
| Additions ||||
| Name | Name | Team | Team |
| Lorence dela Cruz | Lorence dela Cruz | Winnipeg | Winnipeg |
| Caelum Harris | Caelum Harris | Fil-Nation Select | Fil-Nation Select |
| John Morales | John Morales | Batang Tiaong | Batang Tiaong |
| Michael Asoro | Michael Asoro | SHS – Ateneo | SHS – Ateneo |
| Jacob Bayla | Jacob Bayla | Fil-Nation Select | Fil-Nation Select |
| Jason Mandaquit | Jason Mandaquit | Fil-Nation Select | Fil-Nation Select |
| Vhoris Marasigan | Vhoris Marasigan | Batang Tiaong | Batang Tiaong |

### Lineups

Team Heart :
| Player | Team |
| Starters ||
| Jared Bahay | SHS – Ateneo |
| Chris Hubilla | San Beda |
| Jonas Napalang | FEU |
| Mark Llemit | UST |
| Seven Gagate | LSGH |
| Reserves ||
| Veejay Pre | FEU |
| Mat Edding | FEU |
| Jason Mandaquit | Fil-Am Nation Select |
| Jonathan Manalili | Letran |
| RJ Colonia | NUNS |
| Lebron Nieto | Ateneo |
| Matthew Rubico | LPU |
| Rhyle Melencio | DLSZ |
| Jacob Bayla | Fil-Am Nation Select |
| Michael Asoro | SHS – Ateneo |
| Vhoris Marasigan | Batang Tiaong |
| Head coach: TY Tang (CSB) ||
Team Hustle :
| Player | Team |
| Starters ||
| Kieffer Alas | DLSZ |
| Reinhard Jumamoy | NUNS |
| Amiel Acido | Perpetual |
| SJ Moore | Arellano |
| Kristian Porter | Ateneo |
| Reserves ||
| Luis Pablo | LSGH |
| Andy Gemao | Letran |
| Caelum Harris | Fil-Am Nation Select |
| Raffy Celis | SHS – Ateneo |
| Peter Rosillo | Adamson |
| Janrey Pasaol | FEU |
| Kobe Demisana | UPIS |
| Andrei Dungo | San Beda |
| John Morales | Batang Tiaong |
| Lorence dela Cruz | Winnipeg |
| Head coach: Cholo Villanueva (LSGH) ||

### Game

* NBTC Facebook page & Smart Sports
* March 19 1:30 pm
* Recap
Team Heart 108, Team Hustle 91 :
| Pts: Moore 19 | Pts: Hubilla 27 |
* Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay

### 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 Five :
| Name | Team |
| Reinhard Jumamoy | Nazareth School of National University Bullpups |
| Jason Mandaquit | Fil-Nation Select |
| RJ Colonia | Nazareth School of National University Bullpups |
| Jared Bahay | SHS – Ateneo de Cebu Landmasters |
| Raffy Celis | SHS – 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 Five :
| Name | Team |
| Earl Sapasap | Team Tarlac |
| Matthew Jucom | Don Bosco |
| Lebron Nieto | Ateneo Blue Eaglets |
| Kaden Pulutua | Homegrown Australia Crusaders |
| Sean Bondoc | Doc Boleros NCR |