SIXTEEN schools in the City of Smiles and other parts of Negros Occidental are taking the hardcourt as the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) - Bacolod Leg unfolds Saturday, January 4, at the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports (BAYS) Center.

Seeing action in Bracket A are the University of St. La Salle Bacolod, Escalante National High School, La Consolacion College-Bacolod, Colegio San Nicolas Tolentino-Recoletos, St. John’s Institute and Maranatha Christian College.

Meanwhile, for Bracket B are Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias, Sum-ag National High School, Colegio San Agustin - Bacolod, Living Stone International School, Negros Occidental National High School, and Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

Playing in the opening match is USLS Bacolod facing Escalante NHS at 7:30 a.m. followed by CSAV taking Sum-ag NHS at 9:30 a.m.

The NBTC is a duly recognized grassroots program by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas which aims to identify, prepare and develop young male student-athletes.

Through this program, it creates learning environment opportunities for players to demonstrate and enhance both individual and team skills; serves as pathway for the players and coaches to move to a higher level of competition, and to develop skills, build character and raise leaders; and finally, promote the values of leadership, commitment to excellence, right attitude and discipline among the young students through sports.

Moreover, NBTC is also envisioned to equip by mentoring coaches, engage by getting the kids to love the sport and inspire them to have a healthy and active lifestyle, establish and develop fundamental skills and build character, and empower and raise future leaders.

This tournament will run until January 19, 2020, wherein the champion will face the winners of the Silay City and San Carlos City legs. The winner of this local qualifiers will advance to the Regional Championships in Iloilo later this month.

Supervising the Bacolod leg is Benny Lachica.