By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Nueva Valencia covered gym in Guimaras was flooded with basketball fanatics as the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) League officially started.
The program was formally opened by Mrs. Marissa Altamirano, NBTC chief of operations with the presence of coach Luigi Altamirano, Guimaras vice mayor Paul Vincent Dela Cruz, and Nueva Valencia sports coordinator Loren Gallarda.
The 12 heavyweight participating teams (divided into two brackets) were: the Trinidad V. Canja- Sta. Teresa National HS, Good Shepherd’s Fold Academy, Buenavista National HS, Philippine College of Business and Accountancy, Nueva Valencia National HS, and the Simeon J. Jabasa National HS will all battle it out under Bracket A.
Teams under Bracket B are the Doctor Catalino G. Nava National HS, Jordan National HS, Agsanayan National HS, East Valencia National HS, Cabalagnan National HS, and the St. Joseph School Hijas De Jesus.
The opening day also featured five action-packed games, where the GSFA prevailed over NVNHS, 63-59, the ANHS nipped the EVNHS by just a single-point, 55-54, the BNHS conquered the PCBA, 68-56.
The fourth game was a demolition job by the DCG NHS beating SJS, 69-38. The last game was a showdown of firepower as the game went high-scoring with SJJNHS winning against the TVC-STNHS, 73-70.
