THE Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, led by its dynamic guard Jared Bahay, will get its campaign in the 2023 Smart-NBTC National Finals underway with a match against Rome Elite at 9 a.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Powered by the top-ranked high school basketball player in the entire country—Bahay—the Cebu Landmasters-backed squad will try to duplicate its title run in this very same competition back in 2015. They will have plenty of competition for the crown with the likes of NU-Nazareth School, which is also being led by another Cebuano in Reinhard Jumamoy.
NU-Nazareth School looks to make more history as it seeks a three-peat. Led by Jumamoy—an NBTC All-Star and no. 3-ranked HS player—the Bullpups are motivated to achieve glory in the national high school championship as they come in as the top-seed in the 24-team field which also features two other UAAP bets in UST and Ateneo, NCAA hope Mapua, eight international squads, and 12 local qualifiers.
It's a quick turnaround for NUNS which bowed out of the semifinals in UAAP Season 85 Boys Basketball, and rookie coach Kevin de Castro is looking to make the most of this second chance to follow in the footsteps of mentor Jeff Napa and former Bullpups shot-caller Goldwin Monteverde.
Jumamoy and co. take on Cavite champion PCU-Dasmariñas in the Super 24, with the winner advancing to Division 1, while the loser gets relegated to Division 2.
US West Coast representative Fil-Nation Select also comes in as one of the favorites as it leans on Gilas Pilipinas Youth players Caelum Harris, Jacob Bayla, and Zain Mahmood. They face off against NCR representatives Doc Boleros.