Fil-foreign teams top NBTC finals

MANILA, Philippines — Global squads stamped their class as Fil-Am Nation Select-USA and Canada’s Top Flight Sports reigned supreme in the Smart-National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) National Finals Division 1 and 2, respectively, over the weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Fil-Am Nation bested UAAP juniors champion Adamson, 79-71, in the Division 1 finale while Top Flight bested Eco Green-Makati, 95-93, in a thrilling Division 2 championship.

This marked the first championship of any international team in the NBTC, the country’s top tournament for 19-and-under hoopers around the world, since including global squads in 2016.

The pair of wins by overseas squads avenged the tough 78-73 defeat of Fil-Am Nation Select Girls 1, led by MVP Naomi Panganiban’s 51 points, to champion National U-Nazareth School in the inaugural Manila Live U19 Tournament in partnership with Smart-NBTC.

Andy Gemao, the former NCAA Finals MVP from Letran, had 16 points, six rebounds and four assists as Terrence Hill chipped in 12 points, four rebounds and five assists to lead Fil-Am Nation.