By Adrian Stewart Co

The National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) regional qualifying leg in Bacolod City gets underway this weekend at the BAYS Center with Bacolod Tay Tung High School looking to surpass last year’s result, when they finished in second place.
“Our goal is really to improve our finish last year,” said Tay Tung head coach Ronald ‘Yong’ Despi. “We will do our best to qualify in the regionals.”
Center Heinz Gabriel Demisana will lead a squad comprised of Martin Jay Beatingo, Josh Luciano, Nathan Jundana, John Mark Mercado, Fritz Valencia, Jules Wong, Joseph Palaganas, Andy Villamer, Ralph Cagalawan, Dritter Ilalto, Kent Esparagoza, Lucky Charm Ramos, Benedick Gulmatico, and Leindon Chong.
Also competing in the qualifier are the University of St. La Salle, Escalante National High School, La Consolacion College–Bacolod, Colegio San Nicolas De Tolentino-Recoletos, St. John’s Institute, Maranatha Christian College, Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias, Sum-ag National High School, Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, Living Stones International School, and Negros Occidental High School.
Last year, Ronald Mascariñas, president of Chooks-to-Go, a primary NBTC sponsor, spoke on the value of the organization.
“Being part of the NBTC prepares our young athletes for the next stage of their lives,” he explained. “Here, they get a chance to get scholarships in good colleges and, more importantly, become good leaders.”/ASC, WDJ