MAGSISIMULA na ang Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) na naglalayong tulungan ang mga high school hooper na maging homegrown superstars ng bansa sa hinaharap sa Agosto 11 sa Tanduay Gym sa Manila.
Naniniwala si tournament director LA Tenorio na kinakailangan ng high school stars ng isang platform upang ipakita ang kanilang kasanayan sa labas ng kasalukuyang top juniors leagues.
“We promise everyone the exposure because it’s a huge thing for high school players. Me, I came from the high school program of San Beda. Homegrown coming out of high school is a big thing. It’s not like today where most of the collegiate stars come from abroad,” sabi ni Tenorio.
Hinasa ni Tenorio ang kanyang kasanayan bilang miyembro ng San Beda Red Cubs sa ilalim ni legendary coach Ato Badolato.
Naglaro siya para sa Ateneo Blue Eagles sa kolehiyo at sa Barangay Ginebra San Miguel sa PBA, at naging bahagi rin ng Gilas Pilipinas.
“At present, our homegrown high school players are missing opportunities. Why? Because of the lack of exposure. It’s not enough. But I truly believe that we have many talents here in the Philippines,” aniya.
Katuwang ni Tenorio sa pagpapatakbo ng liga sina NGBL Commissioner at PBA legend Ronnie Magsanoc, Executive Committee Chairman at San Miguel Sports Director Alfrancis Chua, Program Director Bonnie Tan ng NorthPort, at Operations Manager at PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
Pamumunuan nina Executive Committee members Bigboy Cheng at Eric Ang ang Production at Finance groups, ayon sa pagkakasunod.,
Ang mga kalahok na eskuwelahan ay ang Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University, National University, at University of the East mula sa UAAP; Colegio de San Juan de Letran, San Beda University, La Salle Greenhills, Mapua University, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, Arellano University, Jose Rizal University, at Lyceum of the Philippines University mula sa NCAA; Xavier School at MGC New Life Christian Academy.
Ang mga koponan ay hahatiin sa dalawang grupo kung saan ang bawat grupo ay lalaro sa single round-robin elimination.
Ang Top 4 teams kada grupo ay aabante sa crossover knockout quarterfinals. Ang semifinals at finals ay madedetermina via KO games.
Ang lahat ng Sunday at holiday games ay lalaruin sa Tanduay Gym, habang ang Saturday games ay sa Aero Center sa Quezon City.
CLYDE MARIANO