2019 NBTC National Finals

The 2019 NBTC National Finals was a basketball competition in the Philippines hosted by the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) to determine the champion for the 2018–2019 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, 2019, and ended on March 24. Also taking place during this time was the NBTC All-Star Game and several other side events.

2019 NBTC National Finals

Tournament details
Venue(s)	SM Mall of Asia
Dates	March 18–24
Teams	32
Final positions
Champions	Division 1: NUNS Bullpups (2nd title) Division 2: St. Augustine (1st title)
Runners-up	Division 1: LSGH Greenies Division 2: LPU
Awards
Most Outstanding Player	Division 1: Jalen Green (FilAm Sports)
Finals MOP	Division 1: Carl Tamayo (NUNS) Division 2: Jiam Quiambao (St. Augustine)
Best Defensive Player	Division 1: Tony Ynot (San Beda) Division 2: Jolo Manansala (St. Augustine)
← 2018 NBTC National Finals 2023 NBTC National Finals →

The NUNS Bullpups became the first back-to-back champions in tournament history as they won Division 1. In Division 2, St. Augustine Institute won their first NBTC title.

Qualification

This year's format involved high school teams representing 105 cities going through city championships. Winners of those city championships would compete in regional championships, with the regional champions moving to the National Finals. 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. Six international teams joined this year's tournament.^[1]

Regional Teams

Region	Vacancies	Qualified	Ref.
Luzon	8	University of Baguio Lyceum – Cavite Perpetual Help JONELTA Sto. Domingo National High School Narvacan Central National High School Isabela Colleges St. Augustine Institute Calayan Educational Foundation Inc.	[2]
Visayas	6	Southwestern University PHINMA University of San Jose–Recoletos Sta. Clarita International School STI–West Negros University[a] First City Providential College St. Louis School of Don Bosco Dolores National High School	[4]
Mindanao	4	Southern Philippine Colleges St. Mary’s College of Tagum Holy Trinity College Zamboanga del Sur National High School	[5]

NCR and International Teams

Event	Date	Location	Vacancies	Qualified	Ref.
NCR representatives from UAAP	February 18–22, 2019	Filoil EcoOil Centre	2	UAAP winner - NUNS Bullpups UAAP first runner-up - Ateneo Blue Eaglets	[6]
NCR representatives from NCAA	November 6–16, 2019	Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay	2	NCAA winner - Mapua Red Robins NCAA first runner-up - LSGH Greenies
NCR representatives from MMBL	February 11, 2019	San Beda gym	2	MMBL winner - San Beda Red Cubs MMBL first runner-up - Letran Squires
Wildcards			2	FEU-D Baby Tamaraws Hope Christian High School
Global teams			6	USA- Fil-Am Sports Canada- Durham Crossover Canada- Top Flight Hoops Vancouver Australia- AusPinoy New Zealand- Camp David Europe- Italy Europe Proudly Pinoy	[7]

1. STI-West Negros was replaced by First City Providential College^[3]

Tournament format

The tournament kicked off with the Seeding Round, with the first elimination round taking place the following day.^[8] Winners from the UAAP, NCAA, NBTC Cebu, and MMBL were given the first eight seeds. Top-ranked regional champions were given the last eight seeds. This left the international teams, wildcards, and other regional champions to position themselves.^[9] In the 9-16 seeding games, winning teams would get to take on teams 21-24, while losers would take on the 17th to 20th seeds. In the 25-32 seeding games, winning teams would take on seeds 5-8, while losers would have to face the top four seeds of the tournament.^[10] From there on, every match was a do-or-die situation for the teams, with knockout rounds in the Super 32, Supreme 16, Fantastic 8, Fearless Four, and the Finals.^[8]

Seeding round

^[10][11]

18 March 2019
#9 Italy Europe		59–68		#16 Hope Christian	Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
#10 FEU-D		66–69		#15 Durham Crossover	Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
#11 Top Flight		71–84		#14 Camp David	Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
#12 FilAm Sports		78–45		#13 AusPinoy	Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
#25 Narvacan National		80–74		#32 Isabela Colleges	Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
#26 Sta. Clarita		99–88		#31 ZDSNHS	Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
#27 U of Baguio		68–56		#30 Dolores National	Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
#28 Holy Trinity		71–74		#29 LPU	Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay

Tournament bracket

Division I

	Super 32					Supreme 16					Quarterfinals					Fearless Four					Finals
	1	NUNS	135
	32	Isabela Colleges	45
						1	NUNS	120
						17	CEFI	56
	17	CEFI	69
	16	Italy Europe	63
											1	NUNS	96
											8	Letran	71
	9	Hope Christian	71
	24	Sto. Domingo	50
						9	Hope Christian	57
						8	Letran	60
	25	Narvacan National	71
	8	Letran	86
																1	NUNS	91
																4	San Beda	90
	5	Ateneo	86
	28	LPU	84
						5	Ateneo	67
						12	FilAmSports	90
	21	Perpetual JONELTA	55
	12	FilAm Sports	86
											12	FilAm Sports	91
											4	San Beda	97
	13	AusPinoy	67
	20	Southern Philippines	69
						20	Southern Philippines	56
						4	San Beda	99
	29	Holy Trinity	83
	4	San Beda	111
																					1	NUNS	95
																					6	LSGH	83
	3	Southwestern	103
	30	Dolores National	49
						3	Southwestern	81
						14	Top Flight	83
	19	St. Mary's	68
	14	Top Flight	72
											14	Top Flight	69
											6	LSGH	99
	11	Camp David	80
	22	SLS Don Bosco	77
						11	Camp David	80
						6	LSGH	102
	27	U of Baguio	37
	6	LSGH	95
																6	LSGH	87
																15	FEU-D	77
	7	USJ–R	75
	26	Sta. Clarita	89
						26	Sta. Clarita	75
						10	Durham Crossover	109
	23	FCPC	82
	10	Durham Crossover	85
											10	Durham Crossover	84
											15	FEU-D	87
	15	FEU-D	90
	18	St. Augustine	86
						15	FEU-D	67
						2	Mapua	58
	31	ZDSNHS	46
	2	Mapua	54

Finals

ESPN5

March 24 5:00 pm

Recap

LSGH 83, NUNS 95
Scoring by quarter: 22–21, 41–50, 64–72, 83–95
Pts: Inand Fornilos 20		Pts: Carl Tamayo 18

Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay

Division II

	Supreme 16					Fantastic Eight					Fearless Four					Final
	1	SLS Don Bosco	75
	16	U of Baguio	60
						1	SLS Don Bosco	70
						9	Holy Trinity	79
	8	AusPinoy	66
	9	Holy Trinity	68
											9	Holy Trinity	94
											13	LPU	114
	5	St. Mary's	75
	12	Dolores National	42
						5	St. Mary's	61
						13	LPU	93
	4	Perpetual JONELTA	69
	13	LPU	80
																13	LPU	90
																10	St. Augustine	91
	6	Italy Europe	83
	11	Isabela Colleges	80
						6	Italy Europe	83
						3	Sto. Domingo	75
	3	Sto. Domingo	72
	14	Narvacan National	62
											6	Italy Europe	74
											10	St. Augustine	88
	7	ZDSNHS	47
	10	St. Augustine	83
						10	St. Augustine	82
						2	FCPC	74
	2	FCPC	75
	15	USJ–R	50

Finals

ESPN5

March 24 3:00 pm

Recap

St. Augustine 91, LPU 90
Scoring by quarter: 19–17, 39–42, 61–72, 91–90
Pts: Jiam Quiambao 28		Pts: Jae Omandac 22

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. The rankings would be shown weekly on the NBTC's online show National Basketball Training Center 24, which was shown on the NBTC's Facebook page and hosted by Kiefer Ravena and Mikee Reyes.^[12]

This year saw Kai Sotto from the UAAP Jrs and Joel Cagulangan from the NCAA Jrs take the top two spots on the rankings. Cagulangan and Sotto led Team Heart and Team Hustle, respectively. They would get to pick their teammates through a draft.^[13] They along with Jalen Green and six other players from international teams were added to the lineups of Team Heart and Team Hustle.^[14]

2019 NBTC All-Stars

Rank	Player	League	Team
#1	Kai Sotto	UAAP	Ateneo
#2	Joel CagulanganINJ1	NCAA	LSGH
#3	Carl Tamayo	UAAP	NUNS
#4	Mark Nonoy	UAAP	UST
#5	Gerry Abadiano	UAAP	NUNS
#6	RJ Abarrientos	UAAP	FEU-D
#7	Harvey Pagsanjan	MMBL	Hope Christian
#8	Clint EscamisINJ2	NCAA	Mapua
#9	Aaron Fermin	NCAA	Arellano
#10	Terrence Fortea	UAAP	NUNS
#11	Forthsky Padrigao	UAAP	Ateneo
#12	Paolo Hernandez	NCAA	Mapua
#13	Inand Fornilos	NCAA	LSGH
#14	Joshua Yerro	NBTC Cebu	UV
#15	Joem Sabandal	UAAP	Adamson
#16	Dan Arches	NCAA	Mapua
#17	John Amores	NCAA	JRU
#18	Mac Guadana	NCAA	LPU
#19	Bismarck Lina	UAAP	UST
#20	Joshua David	NCAA	LSGH
#21	Kevin Quiambao	UAAP	NUNS
#22	Jonnel Policarpio	NCAA	Mapua
#23	Geo Chiu	UAAP	Ateneo
#24	Rafael Go	MMBL	Chiang Kai Shek
Additions
Name		Team
Jalen Green		Fil-Am Sports
Jeron Artest		Fil-Am Sports
Kai Ballungay		Fil-Am Sports
Brandon Wilson		Fil-Am Sports
Tyler Garcia		Durham Crossover
Jasper Rentoy		AusPinoy
Adam DoriaREP1		Adamson
Tony YnotREP2		San Beda

^INJ1 Joel Cagulangan was unable to play due to a right ankle injury injury.^[3]
^INJ2 Clint Escamis was unable to play due to a right ACL tear.^[3]
^REP1 Adam Doria was selected as Joel Cagulangan's replacement.^[3]
^REP2 Tony Ynot was selected as Clint Escamis's replacement.^[3]

Lineups

Team Heart Player Team Starters Jalen Green FilAm Sports Harvey Pagsanjan Hope Christian Jeron Artest FilAm Sports Joem Sabandal Adamson Carl Tamayo NUNS Reserves Inand Fornilos LSGH Joshua David LSGH Aaron Fermin Arellano Paolo Hernandez Mapua Dan Arches Mapua Rafael Go Chiang Kai Shek Mac Guadana LPU Kai Ballungay FilAm Sports Joshua Yerro UV Adam Doria Adamson Head coach: Charles Tiu (Mighty Sports)

Team Hustle Player Team Starters RJ Abarrientos FEU-D Forthsky Padrigao Ateneo Mark Nonoy UST Bismarck Lina UST Kai Sotto Ateneo Reserves Geo Chiu Ateneo Brandon Wilson FilAm Sports Kevin Quiambao NUNS Gerry Abadiano NUNS Terrence Fortea NUNS Jonnel Policarpio Mapua John Amores JRU Tony Ynot San Beda Jasper Rentoy AusPinoy Tyler Garcia Top Flight Head coach: Chris Gavina (Rain or Shine)

Game

ESPN5

March 23 3:00 pm

Recap

Team Heart 86, Team Hustle 94
Pts: Green 19		Pts: Nonoy 23

Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay

Other side events

^[15]

• Skills challenge: Jasper Rentoy
• Three-Point Shootout: John Erolon
• Slam Dunk Contest: Jalen Green and David Carlos

Awards

^[16][17][18]

Division 1

• Most Outstanding Player: Jalen Green (FilAm Sports)
• Finals Most Outstanding Player: Carl Tamayo (NUNS)
• Best Defensive Player: Tony Ynot (San Beda)
• Mythical Five:

Division 1 Mythical Five

Name	Team
Terrence Fortea	Nazareth School of National University Bullpups
Gerry Abadiano	Nazareth School of National University Bullpups
Joshua David	LSGH Greenies
RJ Abarrientos	FEU-D Baby Tamaraws
Rhayyan Amsali	San Beda Red Cubs

Division 2

• Finals Most Outstanding Player: Jiam Quiambao (St. Augustine)
• Defensive Player of the Year Jolo Manansala (St. Augustine)
• Mythical Five:

Division 2 Mythical Five

Name	Team
Jiam Quiambao	St. Augustine
Mac Guadana	Lyceum – Cavite
John Barba	Lyceum – Cavite
Ednor Akad	Holy Trinity College
Chiolo Anonuevo	Italy Europe Proudly Pinoy