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.
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. +Regional teams RegionVacanciesQualifiedRef.Luzon8University of BaguioLyceum – CavitePerpetual Help JONELTASto. Domingo National High SchoolNarvacan Central National High SchoolIsabela CollegesSt. Augustine InstituteCalayan Educational Foundation Inc.Visayas6Southwestern University PHINMAUniversity of San Jose–RecoletosSta. Clarita International SchoolSTI–West Negros University First City Providential CollegeSt. Louis School of Don BoscoDolores National High SchoolMindanao4Southern Philippine CollegesSt. Mary’s College of TagumHoly Trinity CollegeZamboanga del Sur National High School +NCR and international teamsEvent Date Location Vacancies QualifiedRef.NCR representatives from UAAP February 18–22, 2019Filoil EcoOil Centre 2 UAAP winner - NUNS Bullpups UAAP first runner-up - Ateneo Blue EagletsNCR representatives from NCAANovember 6–16, 2019Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay2NCAA winner - Mapua Red Robins NCAA first runner-up - LSGH GreeniesNCR representatives from MMBLFebruary 11, 2019San Beda gym2MMBL winner - San Beda Red Cubs MMBL first runner-up - Letran SquiresWildcards2FEU-D Baby Tamaraws Hope Christian High SchoolGlobal teams 6 USA- Fil-Am SportsCanada- Durham CrossoverCanada- Top Flight Hoops VancouverAustralia- AusPinoyNew Zealand- Camp DavidEurope- Italy Europe Proudly Pinoy
Tournament format The tournament kicked off with the Seeding Round, with the first elimination round taking place the following day. 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. 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. 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.
Seeding round
18 March 2019#9 Italy Europe59–68#16 Hope ChristianMall of Asia Arena, Pasay#10 FEU-D66–69#15 Durham CrossoverMall of Asia Arena, Pasay#11 Top Flight71–84#14 Camp DavidMall of Asia Arena, Pasay#12 FilAm Sports78–45#13 AusPinoyMall of Asia Arena, Pasay#25 Narvacan National80–74#32 Isabela CollegesMall of Asia Arena, Pasay#26 Sta. Clarita99–88#31 ZDSNHSMall of Asia Arena, Pasay#27 U of Baguio68–56#30 Dolores NationalMall of Asia Arena, Pasay#28 Holy Trinity71–74#29 LPUMall of Asia Arena, 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, 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.
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. They along with Jalen Green and six other players from international teams were added to the lineups of Team Heart and Team Hustle. +2019 NBTC All-StarsRankPlayerLeagueTeam#1Kai Sotto UAAPAteneo#2Joel CagulanganNCAALSGH#3Carl TamayoUAAPNUNS#4Mark NonoyUAAPUST#5Gerry AbadianoUAAPNUNS#6RJ AbarrientosUAAPFEU-D#7Harvey PagsanjanMMBLHope Christian#8Clint EscamisNCAAMapua#9Aaron FerminNCAAArellano#10Terrence ForteaUAAPNUNS#11Forthsky PadrigaoUAAPAteneo#12Paolo HernandezNCAAMapua#13Inand FornilosNCAALSGH #14Joshua YerroNBTC CebuUV#15Joem SabandalUAAPAdamson#16Dan ArchesNCAAMapua#17John AmoresNCAAJRU#18Mac GuadanaNCAALPU#19Bismarck LinaUAAPUST#20Joshua DavidNCAALSGH #21Kevin QuiambaoUAAPNUNS#22Jonnel PolicarpioNCAAMapua#23Geo ChiuUAAPAteneo#24Rafael GoMMBLChiang Kai ShekAdditionsNameTeamJalen GreenFil-Am SportsJeron ArtestFil-Am SportsKai BallungayFil-Am SportsBrandon WilsonFil-Am SportsTyler GarciaDurham CrossoverJasper RentoyAusPinoyAdam DoriaAdamsonTony YnotSan Beda
Joel Cagulangan was unable to play due to a right ankle injury. Clint Escamis was unable to play due to a right ACL tear. Adam Doria was selected as Joel Cagulangan's replacement. Tony Ynot was selected as Clint Escamis's replacement.
Lineups +Team HeartPlayerTeamStartersJalen GreenFilAm SportsHarvey PagsanjanHope ChristianJeron ArtestFilAm SportsJoem SabandalAdamsonCarl TamayoNUNSReservesInand FornilosLSGHJoshua DavidLSGHAaron FerminArellanoPaolo HernandezMapuaDan ArchesMapuaRafael GoChiang Kai ShekMac GuadanaLPUKai BallungayFilAm SportsJoshua YerroUVAdam DoriaAdamsonHead coach: Charles Tiu (Mighty Sports)+Team HustlePlayerTeamStartersRJ AbarrientosFEU-DForthsky PadrigaoAteneoMark NonoyUSTBismarck LinaUSTKai SottoAteneoReservesGeo ChiuAteneoBrandon WilsonFilAm SportsKevin QuiambaoNUNSGerry AbadianoNUNSTerrence ForteaNUNSJonnel PolicarpioMapuaJohn AmoresJRUTony YnotSan BedaJasper RentoyAusPinoyTyler GarciaTop FlightHead coach: Chris Gavina (Rain or Shine)
Game
Other side events
Skills challenge: Jasper Rentoy Three-Point Shootout: John Erolon Slam Dunk Contest: Jalen Green and David Carlos
Awards
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 FiveNameTeamTerrence ForteaNazareth School of National University BullpupsGerry AbadianoNazareth School of National University BullpupsJoshua DavidLSGH GreeniesRJ AbarrientosFEU-D Baby TamarawsRhayyan AmsaliSan 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 FiveNameTeamJiam QuiambaoSt. AugustineMac GuadanaLyceum – CaviteJohn Barba Lyceum – CaviteEdnor AkadHoly Trinity CollegeChiolo AnonuevoItaly Europe Proudly Pinoy
References