NBTC, liga para sa kabataan
MAS malaki at mas pinalawak ang programa ng National Basketball Training Center sa pagkakaroon ng bagong title sponsor sa pagpasok ng ika12 edisyon sa susunod na taon.
Naglalayon na maabot ang mas maraming kabataan sa mga lalawigan at yaong may mga dugong Pinoy sa abroad, magiging bagong katuwang ng NBTC ang Chooks-to-Go, isa sa masugid na tagasuporta ng Gilas Pilipinas para sa kabuuan ng kanilang programa sa taong 2019.
Naganap ang contract signing ng dalawang entities kamakailan sa tanggapan ng Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. sa Pasig City.
"We've been involved with basketball for two years and it seems like a long time already," pahayag ni BAVI president Ronald Mascariñas. "The last two years we've been supporting Batang Gilas and the Gilas Cadets. It was quite a journey for us. It gave us an opportunity to advance our advocacy in promoting nationalism and sportsmanship."
"I was really impressed with Coach Eric Altamirano's comprehensive program to promote the grassroots program with the NBTC. It was too good to be true that someone in the Philippines who has the heart to promote grassroots basketball. For 2019, we are really ready to back up the NBTC program together with SM," aniya.
Kaugnay ng nasabing partnership, isiniwalat ni Altamirano ang mga plano ng NBTC para sa 2019 na magsisimula sa pamamagitan ng National Championship sa Marso na inaasahang lalahukan ng mas maraming koponan mula dito sa bansa at sa abroad.
Idinagdag din sa youth league calendar sa susunod na taon ang 3x3 nationals.
"Aside from having more provincial teams, we will also have a lot of international teams. Last year we had, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. This year we are happy to have Italy, Guam, and Vancouver," ayon kay Altamirano, executive director ng NBTC.
"I could also announce that we are also going to have a nationwide 3x3 tournament."
Bukod dito, magiging bahagi na rin ang Chooks-to-Go ng iba pa nilang programa gaya ng NBTC Coaching Clinic at NBTC Elite 60.
"We are happy to announce that Chooks-to-Go will be our title sponsor. It means that it will encompass all the activities we are going to do, including the Coaches Clinic and the Elite 60," pahayag ni Altamirano.
"The NBTC has also been involved with coaching development along with player development. There have been coaching clinics and I know that Coach Eric is as good as example as any in the country," pagbabahagi naman ni Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin, key speaker para sa Coaching Clinic sa nakalipas na dalawang taon.
"He is someone who has dedicated his life and passion to basketball. In order to work with the level the NBTC exists in, you have to have somebody like that,"aniya.