National Basketball Training Center

National Basketball Training Center
National Basketball Training Center
AbbreviationNBTC
Formation2007; 17 years ago (2007)
FounderEric Altamirano
TypeGrassroots
HeadquartersQuezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Region
Philippines
ServicesSports training (basketball)
Program Director
Eric Altamirano

The National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) is the official grassroots basketball program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Inc. Its objective is to identify, prepare, and develop young players. It started out as a training program for the Philippines' national basketball teams. They then developed the NBTC League, a nationwide tournament that features the best high school teams from all over the country and since 2016, has also involved international teams. The NBTC also held a Coaches' Convention until 2019, but is now set to be revived in 2024.

History

[edit]

The program was established in 2007 by the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Inc., as a training program for boys and girls who could compete in the 2010 Youth Olympics.[1][2] Eric Altamirano and Alex Compton were appointed to head the program, which included scouting the US and Canada to look for players who could join the program.[3] They had experience running a basketball program, as they had also organized a Nike Elite Camp.[4] They also did skills training camps in three different cities.

Altamirano and Compton wanted to reach out to more rural areas, so they thought of developing a school-based league.[4] In 2008, the NBTC Developmental League, a 16-and-under boys' tournament, was formed, with Altamirano serving as its tournament director.[5] 29 teams participated in the inaugural tournament. During the tournament, certain players were called up for the SEABA Youth tournament pool.[6] They also gave out training modules that were used in different basketball camps around the country.[7] A team of NBTC players also placed fourth in the 2009 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship.[8]

In 2011, the NBTC launched a youth basketball program for public school students ages 14 to 17.[9] They also continued to conduct more workshops, and produce more training modules and instructional videos.[10]

In 2012, the NBTC set up a Jr. Elite League, for grade school players 12-and-under, which AMA Computer University won.[11] They also signed a partnership deal with the MVP Sports Foundation.[12] With another partnership with SM in 2016, the NBTC got more media exposure.[4]

In 2015, the NBTC organized a 3x3 tournament.[13] It wasn't held again until the 2018–19 season of the NBTC National Championship in hopes of helping the country accumulate points in order to increase its FIBA 3x3 rank and qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[14][15]

In 2017, they also put together a basketball camp known as the "Elite 60".[16] The following year, three campers were invited to the Batang Gilas pool for the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup.[17]

The NBTC's operations were put on hold in the middle of the 2019–20 season of their league due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] They were able to resume operations in 2022 with the Global Games, a series of international qualifiers for Filipinos in different parts of the world.[19] In 2023, they launched a girls' high school tournament, with Mau Belen as tournament director and featured eight teams.[20] Fil-Nation Select-USA won the inaugural tournament.[21]

NBTC League

[edit]
Main article: NBTC League

In 2008, the NBTC Developmental League, a 16-and-under tournament, was formed, with Altamirano serving as its tournament director.[5] 29 teams participated in the inaugural tournament, with 24 from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and five from the NCR. Since then, hundreds of high school teams and clubs from all over the country have joined as well as several teams from overseas.[22] Through the tournament, local and international basketball talents have been discovered and developed.

The tournament also holds the NBTC All-Star Game, which features 24–30 of the best high school players in the country. In earlier years, tryouts were held to see who would take part in the event.[23] Beginning in 2018, the top 24 high school players based on the NBTC's rankings were chosen to play in the event.[24] The event also features a slam dunk contest, three-point shootout, and skills challenge.[25]

Coaches' Convention

[edit]
Main article: NBTC Coaches Convention

In the early years of the NBTC, Altamirano and Compton traveled to different provinces throughout the country to conduct clinics for players and coaches. After realizing it would be better to bring the coaches to Manila, they held a three-day National Coaches' Convention in 2011 which was attended by 200 coaches and included speakers such as Tim Cone, Chot Reyes, and Ricky Dandan.[26] Attendance to the convention is mandatory for coaches participating in the NBTC League.[27] In 2012, it became a joint project of the NBTC and the MVP Sports Foundation.[12]

In the last conference held in 2019, over 1,500 coaches attended, including those from public schools in partnership with DepEd.[28] Speakers at that year's conference included Metta World Peace, Baldwin, and Rob Beveridge.[29] Another convention was scheduled for 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] It is now set to be revived in March 2024 in partnership with the SBP Coaches' Academy.[30]

Sponsors

[edit]

The NBTC was first sponsored mainly by Nokia and TAO Corp.[5] In 2011, Energen sponsored the public high school program, while Seaoil sponsored the private high school program.[10] Seaoil sponsored the NBTC for three years.[31] In 2015, with Seaoil letting go of sponsorship, SM Sports Development took over as principal sponsor.[32] Chooks-to-Go joined SM as a title sponsor in 2019.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kintanar, Han (January 31, 2008). "NBTC-"First Ever In Philippine Basketball" Launched". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "RP cagers who will train for 2010 Junior Olympics listed". GMA News Online. January 18, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Navarro, June (September 4, 2007). "Calling cagers with Pinoy roots". Philippine Daily Inquirer. pp. A22. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Ansis, JC (March 16, 2018). "All about growth: How Coach E made NBTC best grassroots program". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "RP-wide NBTC D-League kicks off". Philstar.com. November 1, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  6. ^ "Altamirano names members of RP Youth pool". news.abs-cbn.com. January 5, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  7. ^ "MetroSports re-launches summer sports camp". Philstar.com. March 27, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "SBP executive lauds Nokia D-League". Philstar.com. December 8, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "NBTC D-League takes act to public schools". GMA News Online. March 28, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Henson, Joaquin M. (April 3, 2011). "NU coach rebuilding Bulldogs: Final Four Eric's target in 2012". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  11. ^ "AMACU sweeps Ateneo, claims Seaoil jr title". Philstar.com. May 29, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "MVP Sports Foundation, NBTC partner up for Coaches Convention | InterAKTV". October 14, 2012. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  13. ^ Terrado, Reuben (March 8, 2015). "Maryhill College of Lucena edges Naga Montessori to rule NBTC 3x3 tourney". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Sarmenta, Yoyo (December 7, 2018). "NBTC broadens program with help of Chooks-to-Go". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "Kenneth Eugenio, Duke Madelo power Perpetual Help to NBTC 3x3 title". Spin.ph. March 24, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "Elite 60 Basketball Camp". MVP Sports Foundation. July 19, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Li, Matthew (May 14, 2018). "3 Elite 60 campers invited to join Batang Gilas pool". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "NBTC cancelled indefinitely". SunStar Publishing Inc. April 11, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "NBTC to look for Pinoy talents all over the world through Global Games". GMA News Online. September 6, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  20. ^ Morales, Luisa (March 5, 2023). "NBTC girls hoops tiff hopes to inspire next generation of women ballers". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  21. ^ Times, Tiebreaker (March 19, 2023). "Smart NBTC: Nina Emnace shines as Fil-Nation outclasses NUNS for girls' crown". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  22. ^ Matel, Philip (September 6, 2021). "NBTC widens reach with 2022 Global Games". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  23. ^ Inquirer, Philippine Daily (February 15, 2014). "Junior cagers seek NBTC All-Star slots". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  24. ^ "Gilas prospects Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo head candidates for NBTC All-Star Game". Spin.ph. January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  25. ^ Terrado, Reuben (February 21, 2023). "NBTC national finals, All-Star Game return after three-year hiatus". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  26. ^ Henson, Joaquin M. (March 1, 2012). "Top prep cagers vie for Seaoil title". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  27. ^ Henson, Joaquin M. (March 2, 2013). "Disparity closes in HS basketball". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  28. ^ Bacnis, Justine (March 5, 2019). "Coaches Convention open to public school teachers as NBTC enters partnership with DepEd". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  29. ^ Leongson, Randolph B. (March 11, 2019). "Metta World Peace tapped as speaker for NBTC Coaches Convention". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  30. ^ "NBTC links up with SBP Coaches Academy for Coaches Convention comeback". BusinessMirror. January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  31. ^ "SEAOIL to back NBTC elite league". Philstar.com. March 18, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  32. ^ Olivares, Rick (November 12, 2015). "NBTC, MMBL get solid backing". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
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