The 2019 NBTC National Finals was a

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

competition in the Philippines hosted by the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) to determine the champion for the 2018–2019

NBTC League The NBTC League (also known as the Smart-NBTC League for sponsorship purposes) is one of the programs under the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC). It is a Philippine high school basketball tournament through which young players are deve ...

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.

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

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 Kiefer Isaac Crisologo Ravena (; born October 27, 1993) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Yokohama B-Corsairs of the B.League. Ravena played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles of the UAAP The University Athletic Association o ...

and

Mikee Reyes Miguel Antonio "Mikee" Reyes (born October 30, 1990) is a Filipino former professional basketball player who is a podcaster, media personality and sports analyst for One Sports. He was selected 24th overall by the TNT KaTropa in the 2016 PBA dr ...

. This year saw

Kai Sotto Kai Zachary Perlado Sotto (, ; born May 11, 2002) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Koshigaya Alphas of the Japanese B.League. Listed at , he plays the center position. He is tied with Raul Dillo as the tallest Filipino profes ...

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 Jalen Romande Green (born February 9, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a consensus five-star college recruiting, recruit and the best shooting guard ...

and six other players from international teams were added to the lineups of Team Heart and Team Hustle. Joel Cagulangan was unable to play due to a right ankle injury 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

Game

Other side events

* Skills challenge: Jasper Rentoy * Three-Point Shootout: John Erolon * Slam Dunk Contest:

and David Carlos

Awards

Division 1

* Most Outstanding Player:

(FilAm Sports) * Finals Most Outstanding Player:

Carl Tamayo Carl Vincent Cabellon Tamayo (born February 13, 2001) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Changwon LG Sakers of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). He played college basketball for the UP Fighting Maroons of the University Athl ...

(

NUNS A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of Evangelical counsels, poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Enclosed religious orders, enclosure of a monastery or convent.' ...

) * Best Defensive Player: Tony Ynot ( San Beda) * Mythical Five:

Division 2

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

References

{{Reflist Sports competitions in Manila Basketball competitions in the Philippines 2018–19 in Philippine basketball leagues