The 2018 NBTC National Finals was a basketball competition in the Philippines hosted by the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) to determine the champion for the 2017–2018 NBTC League season. It involved 32 high school teams, with 16 regional teams, eight representatives from the NCR, and six global squads. It began on March 18, 2018, 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 their first title in tournament history as they won Division 1. In Division 2, De La Salle Lipa won their second NBTC title.
Qualification This year's format involved a total of 835 teams across 76 cities nationwide. For teams based in the NCR, the UAAP Jrs., NCAA Jrs., and Metro Manila Basketball League (MMBL) tournaments are used as qualifiers, with the winners and first runner-ups of those tournaments getting to play in the National Finals. CESAFI champions and first runner-ups were also guaranteed qualification. The rest of the field was made up of four international teams and 16 regional teams. +Regional teamsVacanciesQualified16University of BaguioLyceum – CaviteDe La Salle Lipa Green ChevronsAssumption Montessori School - CDOAssumption College of DavaoNotre Dame of Midsayap College (NDMC)Hercor College of RoxasSt. Benilde International School - LagunaLetran - BataanBacolod Tay Tung High SchoolThunderboltsShepherdville National High School - NagaNew Ormoc City National High SchoolSLS-Don Bosco - DumagueteSaint Columban College - PagadianUniversity of Luzon (UL) - DagupanUniversity of Assumption (UA) - San Fernando +NCR, CESAFI, and international teamsEventDateLocationVacanciesQualifiedRef.NCR representatives from UAAPFebruary 23–March 2, 2018Filoil Flying V Centre, San Juan City2UAAP winner - Ateneo Blue EagletsUAAP first runner-up - NUNS BullpupsNCR representatives from NCAANovember 6–16, 2018Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City2NCAA winner - LSGH GreeniesNCAA first runner-up - Mapua Red RobinsNCR representatives from MMBLFebruary 5, 2018San Beda gym2MMBL winner - Chiang Kai-shek CollegeMMBL first runner-up - San Beda Red CubsRepresentatives from CESAFIOctober 12, 2017Cebu Coliseum2CESAFI winner - UV Baby LancersCESAFI first runner-up - Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu Magis EaglesWildcards4Letran SquiresHope Christian High SchoolAdamson Baby FalconsSan Sebastian StagletsGlobal teams4USA- Fil-Am SportsCanada- Durham CrossoverNew Zealand - Camp DavidAustralia- AusPinoy
Tournament format The tournament kicked off with the Seeding Round, with teams representing the UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, and MMBL given the first eight seeds. The four international teams were seeded 9 to 12, followed by NCR wildcard teams at 13 to 16, the top eight regional champions from the previous national finals at 17 to 24, and the remaining eight regional champions at 25 to 32. The international teams would face the NCR wildcard teams in the seeding round, as would the regional champions. The winners of the seeding round, would claim the higher seed in their duel, while the loser took the lower seed, as all teams advanced to the first round.
In the first round, winners advance into the Division 1 tournament, with losers being sent to the Division 2 tournament. Both tournaments observe the same knockout format until the final round.
Seeding round
March 19, 2018#9 AusPinoy57–58#16 Hope ChristianOne E-Com Center, Pasay#10 Camp David54–95#15 SSC-ROne E-Com Center, Pasay#11 Durham Crossover65–64#14 LetranOne E-Com Center, Pasay#12 FilAm Sports77–82#13 AdamsonOne E-Com Center, Pasay#25 UA71–48#32 New Ormoc Natl HSOne E-Com Center, Pasay#26 SLS-Don Bosco71–69#31 Shepherdville One E-Com Center, Pasay#27 St. Columban 49–76#30 Letran - BataanOne E-Com Center, Pasay#28 Tay Tung87–62#29 ULOne E-Com Center, Pasay
Tournament bracket
Division I
Finals
Division II
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, CESAFI, and MMBL high school tournaments.
This year saw Kai Sotto from the UAAP Jrs and Joel Cagulangan from the NCAA Jrs take the top two spots on the rankings. They were also the top two picks for the all-star draft, with Cagulangan being drafted first overall by assistant coach Marvin Bienvenida for Team Heart, while Sotto was drafted second overall by Joe Silva for Team Hustle. Team Heart was coached by Chris Gavina, while Team Hustle was coached by Topex Robinson. Additional players from international teams were also added to both lineups. +2018 NBTC All-StarsRankPlayerLeagueTeam#1Kai SottoUAAPAteneo#2JD CagulanganNCAALSGH#3SJ BelangelUAAPAteneo#4Will GozumNCAAMapua#5CJ CansinoUAAPUST#6Dave IldefonsoUAAPAteneo#7L-Jay GonzalesUAAPFEU-D#8John GalinatoMMBLChiang Kai Shek#9Rhayyan AmsaliUAAPNUNS#10Aaron FerminNCAAArellano#11Clint EscamisNCAAMapua#12Inand FornilosNCAALSGH#13Warren BonifacioNCAAMapua#14Terrence ForteaUAAPNUNS#15RJ AbarrientosUAAPFEU-D#16Evan NelleNCAASan Beda#17Beirn LaurenteCESAFIUV#18Miguel OczonUAAPNUNS#19Joem SabandalUAAPAdamson#20Raven CortezUAAPDLSZ#21Mac GuadañaNCAALPU#22Joshua YerroCESAFIUV#23Harvey PagsanjanMMBLHope Christian#24Alex VisserCESAFISHS – AteneoAdditionsNameTeamJalen GreenFil-Am SportsKihei ClarkFil-Am SportsMatthew DavesDurham CrossoverCooper McLaughlinAusPinoyBrandon WilsonFil-Am SportsTaine DavisCamp DavidMaui CruzEAC
Lineups +Team HeartPlayerTeamStartersJD CagulanganLSGHL-Jay GonzalesFEU-DJalen GreenFil-Am SportsDave IldefonsoAteneoAaron FerminArellanoReservesInand FornilosLSGHBeirn LaurenteUVBrandon WilsonFil-Am SportsWarren BonifacioMapuaClint EscamisMapuaJohn GalinatoChiang Kai ShekRaven CortezDLSZMaui CruzEACJoshua YerroUVTaine DavisCamp DavidEvan NelleSan BedaHead coach: Chris Gavina (Rain or Shine)+Team HustlePlayerTeamStartersRJ AbarrientosFEU-DSJ BelangelAteneoCJ CansinoUSTWill GozumMapuaKai SottoAteneoReservesJoem SabandalAdamsonKihei ClarkFil-Am SportsRhayyan AmsaliNUNSHarvey PagsanjanHope ChristianMiguel OczonNUNSMac GuadanaLPUTerrence ForteaNUNSCooper McLaughlinAusPinoyMatthew DavesDurham CrossoverAlex VisserSHS – AteneoHead coach: Topex Robinson (Lyceum)
Game
Other side events
Skills challenge: Carl Tamayo Three-Point Shootout: Shaun de Leon Slam Dunk Contest: Jalen Green
Awards
Division 1
Most Outstanding Player: JD Cagulangan (LSGH) Finals Most Outstanding Player: Gerry Abadiano (NUNS) Best Defensive Player: Inand Fornilos (LSGH) Mythical Five:
+Division 1 Mythical FiveNameTeamTerrence ForteaNazareth School of National University BullpupsGerry AbadianoNazareth School of National University BullpupsJD CagulanganLSGH GreeniesJalen GreenFil Am Sports USAErrol PastorSacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles
Division 2
Most Outstanding Player: Ian Abila (De La Salle Lipa) Defensive Player of the Year: Ian Abila (De La Salle Lipa) Mythical Team:
+Division 2 Mythical TeamNameTeamIan AbilaDe La Salle LipaRaphael DimayugaDe La Salle LipaJulius GarciaLetran-BataanJames BarreraBacolod Tay Tung High School
References