Passion and Play: Filipino Youth Experience Basketball Brilliance at NBTC Finals Through PlayTime Cares

The energy was electric at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena as over 1,500 young men and 1,500 young women from the Sisters of Mary School in Silang, Cavite roared with excitement, witnessing firsthand the future of Filipino basketball at the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Finals held on April 5 and 6, 2025—all thanks to the empowering initiative PlayTime CARES (Community, Action, Relief, Empowerment, Sustainability).

These students, many of whom experienced their very first live basketball game, were not just spectators—they were part of something bigger. “Yung ingay ng mga bata na nanonood, na-appreciate nila yung laro. Para sa kanila, this is something that gives them hope and inspiration,” (“The uproar of the kids who were watching, they appreciate the game. For them, this is something that gives them hope and inspiration,”) said Coach Eric Altamirano, National Program Director of NBTC.

The NBTC Finals, which featured edge-of-your-seat action from Division 1, Division 2, and 19-under teams, showcased the raw talent and heart of young Filipino players both from the Philippines and abroad. The games were more than just sport—they were stories of determination, unity, and dreams in motion.

Bringing home the Champion titles: for Division 1, Fil-Am Nation Select edged out Phenom Blue Fire-Pasay; for Division 2, St. Jude Cavite triumphed over Top Flight Sports-Canada, for 19U Men’s, NU Nazareth School defeated Fil-Am Nation Select with a 71-65 score, and for 19U Women’s, NU Lady Bulldogs beat Fil-Am Jo Koy at a 77–75 ending.

Among the standout moments was the performance of Samantha Medina, a towering 6-foot-1 Filipino-American who tallied 9 points and 7 rebounds. Her stellar play has now earned her a commitment to play college basketball for National University, showing just how real the opportunities can be when young athletes are given the right platform.

One of the most heartfelt appearances of Sunday’s event came from Filipino-American superstar comedian Jo Koy, who sponsored the Fil-Am Jo Koy women’s team and personally flew in to cheer them on. “If you have an opportunity to shine the light, do it,” he said. “There are so many talented, beautiful women athletes out there who just need that little extra. Let’s keep knocking more doors down for these women.”

Coach Altamirano reiterated NBTC’s mission: “We want to develop skills, build character, and by doing this, we raise future leaders.”

his year’s NBTC Finals more than just a sporting event. “We at PlayTime CARES see sports not just a show of skill and talent but a space where futures are built. We want to bring into the communities we work with a meaningful transformation that empowers every individual, for each to realize their potential, and be on the relentless pursuit of turning dreams into reality. Collaborating with NBTC and Sisters of Mary is a testament to our commitment to revolutionize not only to the landscape we occupy, but to extend the same vigor and unyielding passion to our partners’ spaces as well,” says Krizia Cortez, Director of Public Relations of PlayTime CARES.

Going beyond supporting the league, this partnership created unforgettable experiences for the youth of Boy’s Town and Girl’s Town by bringing them to the arena, showing them that with heart and hard work, their dreams can take flight.

“I believe in PlayTime CARES because they truly care,” said Coach Altamirano. “NBTC and PlayTime CARES share the same vision—we believe in the power of the youth. They are the future of our nation.”

This year’s NBTC Finals wasn’t just a celebration of basketball—it was a movement of hope, unity, and potential realized. And for every young dreamer in the crowd that day, the message rang loud and clear: this is what believing in the youth looks like.