NEGROS Occidental-based schools scored lopsided victories at the start of the Bacolod leg of the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) League on Sunday at the St. John’s Activity Center in Bacolod City.
Negros Occidental High School kicked things off with an upset win over the heavily favored Escalante National High School 75-58, while La Consolacion College-Bacolod walloped Trinity Christian School 74-58.
Bacolod City National High School, meanwhile, captured two straight victories – first at the expense of the undersized Sum-ag National High School 102-60, and second against Bacolod Christian Center 96-77.
Sum-ag NHS was unsuccessful in bouncing back from a season-opener loss with a 65-104 defeat at the hands of St. John’s Institute.
Bacolod Tay Tung High School, for its part, dismantled Bacolod City Division Meet champions Luisa Medel National High School 83-50.
The league’s Bacolod leg champion will advance to the national finals in March 2019 in Manila.
Now on its 11th season, the NBTC League puts together high school teams across the country in developing skills, building character and raising leaders among them.
“The NBTC is a young player’s stepping stone toward a brighter future in basketball,” said Negros Basketball Association lifetime president Oscar Bascon. “Who knows? One of you will be the next Jeff Chan, James Yap, SJ Belangel, or Kib Montalbo.”
Eric Altamirano is the league’s program director and Alex Compton, national training director./PN
