Panauhing pandangal si Canada Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder sa pagbubukas ng SM-NBTC National High School Championship sa Marso 13-17, sa MOA Arena.
“The Canadian Ambassador is so excited to see the team compete here in the Philippines that is why he wants to watch all the coming games of the squad,” sabi ni Team Canada coach Michael Cruz, sasabak bilang guest team sa liga.
Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na makakasali ang dayuhang koponan sa torneo na pinamamahalaan ni NBTC program director Eric Altamirano at NBTC Training Director Alex Compton kasama si NBTC Selection Committee head Edmundo “Ato” Badolato.
'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!
Maliban sa Team Canada, lalahok din sa torneo ang Team Thailand na binubuo ng Fil-Thai.
“They are regular participants and not as guest, so they are eligible to be declared if they win, as champions,” sambit ni Badolato.
Makakasama ng Canada at Thailand ang 22 iba pang koponan sa high school sa buong bansa na sasabak sa regular na elimination round.
Isasagawa rin ang 5th SM-NBTC High School All-Star Game tampok ang 24 na pinakamagagaling na junior players. Ang mga koponan ay hinati sa Division 1 at Division 2 matapos ang isang buwan na kompetisyon sa mahigit na 700 eskuwelahan mula sa 48 siyudad sa bansa.
Mag-aagawan para sa titulo bilang top high school team ng bansa ang Lyceum, Sacred Heart-Ateneo de Cebu, Bacolod Tay Tung, St. Robert’s International School, Assumption Montessori School, Southern City Colleges, Assumption College of Davao, San Beda College, Chiang Kai Shek College, Bato Rural Development High School, Palawan National High School, De La Salle Lipa, Rex Dei Academy, Our Lady of Pillar College Cauayan, Castillejos National High School, Angeles University Foundation, St. Louis College High School, Linao National High School, Paref Springdale School, Dr. Aurelio Mendoza Memorial College, Agusan National High School at ang magwawagi sa UAAP juniors crown na malalaman sa susunod na linggo. (Angie Oredo)
