Cebu’s Khalifa-ANS Sports and Iloilo’s St. Roberts International College (SRIC)-Elite Lab will depart Negros Island with berths to the 2024 Smart-NBTC National Finals presented by SM Supermalls.
Negrenses UNBL-Don Bosco of Dumaguete and Trinity-Davies Paint/El Tzino of Central Negros complete the cast, with all four teams proving to be the cream of the crop in the Visayas Regional Championship (RC).
Emmanuel Catalan was the only player in double digits for UNBL-Don Bosco, and it was defense that pushed and kept the Greywolves ahead en route to a 54-40 decision. Trinity, on the other hand, was led by Most Outstanding Player frontrunner John Loyd Martinez, who was supported by Austin John Braganza in the 78-65 win.
STI West Negros University-Nzane and Bacolod Tay Tung High School had a chance to make it an all-Negros affair, but were thwarted by Khalifa-ANS Sports, 63-75, and SRIC-Elite Lab, 48-72, respectively.
(C) NBTC
Judd Kyle Rueda and Peter Peteros led the effort for the Cebuanos, while the Ilonggos’ attack was spearheaded by Justin Rafael Cargo and Rengie Ecarma.
The last four teams standing will still clash in the semifinals and then the final on Sunday at Willy and Nolita Au Court inside Tay Tung. However, they have already secured spots in the National Finals by virtue of being the best of the best in the Visayas’ 16-team field.
Khalifa, UNBL-Don Bosco, Trinity, and SRIC-Elite Lab will join North Luzon qualifiers Yengskivel Sportswear (CAMANAVA), Philippine College of Science and Technology-Calasiao (Pangasinan), Pampanga Lanterns, and 1 San Rafael (Bulacan), along with Mindanao qualifiers Toyomoto Auto Supply and Bullet Customs Brokerage-Prime Bistro (Davao), Xavier-Ateneo de Cagayan-Sealcor, and Notre Dame of Midsayap (SOCCSKSARGEN) in the National Finals from Mar. 18-24.
Four more regional qualifiers, alongside the UAAP and NCAA finalists; 10 squads from the NBTC’s Global Partners in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand; and two more wildcard teams will also be in the midst of #MadnessInMOA.
After the last day of the Visayas RC hosted by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and Gov. Bong Lacson, the South Luzon RC in Lucena City (Mar. 1-3) will follow suit.
