By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
“Grassroots program po kami, that’s why ‘yung mga probinsyano katulad dito ang priority namin. Hindi sa lahat ng oras yung nasa syudad ang makaka angat, dapat kayo din dito.”
One of the most powerful and heart-warming lines National Basketball Training Center’s Administration head and the wife of coach Eric Altamirano, Mrs. Marissa Altamirano, said in front of the teams vying for the coveted title in the NBTC Regional finals.
Also, Mrs. Altamirano wants the athletes to know that you should always go back to where you came from, do not forget who or what made you become what you are right now.
With Mrs. Altamirano’s words, she hopes to always have clean and peaceful games with the spirit of sportsmanship leading the rest.
The SM NBTC Western Visayas finals was warmly received by the different champion teams from all over the region and was hosted by Ibajay, Aklan.
Hercor College from Roxas, Tay Tung College from Negros Occidental, St. Robert’s Collge from Iloilo, Buenavista National High School from Guimaras, Aklan’s Melchor Memorial School Inc., and Antique’s University of Antique are the respective champions in their places and will battle it out for the prestigious seat for the NBTC national spot to be held in Manila.
Coach Eric Altamirano, the NBTC founder and program head, also emphasized that the NBTC is not only honing the players to follow their basketball careers, but to also study and graduate.
“Mga players, coaches, hindi lang po to basketball. We help these kids hone their skills but we also want them to finish their school. Tandaan nyo po, basketball is temporary,” coach Altamirano said.
The event is spearheaded by NBTC Western Visayas and Negros Oriental head, Dr. Richard Gabayoyo.
NBTC Western Visayas finals is presented to you by SM, Chooks to Go, Darlington Exped, Phoenix, Go for Gold, Smart, Vivo, Molten, ESPN 5, and Cignal.
