Kieffer Alas, Cabs Cabonilas, and Mark Esperanza are vying for the final spots in the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals through the Wildcard Tournaments, which kick off on Thursday at Gameville Ball Park and CCF Center.
Alas, the top-ranked high school player in the country and newly-crowned UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball MVP, will lead Phenom Blue Fire. The La Salle Zobel standout will team up with CJ Amos, Santi Romero, Matthew Jucom, and Bonn Daja.
They are favored to top Pool B in the Gameville leg, where they will face the Nathan Egea-led Tiana ENT Basketball, Taguig-Pateros champion Toto Tumbs Barbers, Holy Deliverance ICS of Rizal, and Calgary Blizzard North in this tournament that is also presented by SM Supermalls and Playtime Cares.
Pool A features El Listo-Camarines Norte, Fil-Am Nation Select San Francisco, Elite WA, Gardner College, and Eco Green Technology.
Meanwhile, Pool C includes 1Marinduque, PSA KEAS New Zealand, AUBA Perth, Tigers Basketball, and Vic Manuel Basketball Club.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
FEU-Diliman’s Cabonilas will lead Eastprnt x Ympact Ballers as they open their campaign in Pool A against Marikina Health Forum, which is spearheaded by fellow UAAP Mythical Team member Esperanza of Adamson.
They will also contend with the unified Batang Tiaong x Tribu x Boss I squad, Quezon City champions Arceegee Saints, and FYBA DC in the CCF leg.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Arellano Braves, meanwhile, will compete in Pool B alongside PCCR Serpent Eagles, WCA Carabaos, Homegrown Australia, and Proudly Pinoy Filcom Italy.
In Pool C, the UE Junior Warriors will battle against Fil-Can Nation Select, Nueva Ecija D’ Generals, United Hoopers, and Mic Basketball Australia Boomers in this competition which is also supported by MNL Kingpin, Molten, Pocari Sweat, Swish, JProject, and Foot Locker.
Only the champions of the two Wildcard Tournaments will secure the final two spots in the 32-team National Finals, which begin on March 31.
The 30 wildcard contenders will compete in the group stage on Thursday and Friday, with the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placers advancing.
The quarterfinals and semifinals will take place on Saturday at Gameville Ball Park, followed by the championship games on Sunday.
