Former NBA Coach of the Year Byron Scott is taking the helm this year for defending NBTC champion Fil-Am Nation Select.
Defending NBTC Division 1 champions Fil-Am Nation Select started their title retention bid strong after an 85-72 pummeling of hapless Top Flight Sports Canada in the Burlington Seeding Round of the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals presented by SM Supermalls Monday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
NCAA Division 1 player Angelino Mark set the tone for the Fil-Ams with 20 points on top of five rebounds and four assists, while Andrew Miller and Eian Lowe backed him up with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
“This is the youngest team I have ever coached and the game is a lot of fun,” expressed NBA legend and current Fil-Am Nation coach Byron Scott. “We want to do back-to-back. We have a lot of guys who love to compete.
Fil-Am Nation Select leaned on the leadership of Mark which enabled them to put up a 25-point lead in the third quarter, 60-35, and never looking back to secure the top-seed in the 32-team field in the Philippine national 19-under championship presented by SM Supermalls and Playtime Cares.
The win set up a Pocari Sweat Super 32 clash against the St. Jude College Dasmariñas Thaddeans, while Top Flight Sports, settling for the no. 2-seed, will take on the USPF Baby Panthers.
Chad Gammad provided 24 points built on four triples, while Joey Panghulan shared 14 of his own for the Fil-Canadians.
FilEuro Nation Select, for its part, wasted no time in claiming the 19th seed as it made quick work of Sequoia Hotels Team NZ, 72-57.
Gabe de Jesus and Allen Perez combined for 29 points for FilEuro which will face Notre Dame of Midsayap Rams, while the 20th-seeded Sequoia Hotels Team NZ was paced by Arron Malonzo who delivered 12 and will face USJ-R Jaguar Cubs in the next phase.
Bass Reefman’s 30-point 16-rebound outing powered Proudly Pinoy Filcom Italy to a come-from-behind 77-72 victory over Jazzville Sports Middle East to snare the 17th seed for a battle against Momsie’s Kitchenette Laguna.
Jazzville settled for the 18th seed as Ralph Dizon’s 27 markers built on six triples as they shift their focus on Luid Kapampangan.
Meanwhile, Homegrown Australia weathered Batang Europa’s late game storm, 64-55, to clinch the no. 23-seed to set up a date against Chrisveil Sports Cavite, as Batang Europa will be facing Toyomoto Auto Supply Davao in the Super 32.In other results, Carl Matala (19) and Edryn Morales (12) lifted FilAm Clifton Tigers over Crossover
Canada to claim the 21st seed and a matchup with EZ Jersey-Doc Boleros. Crossover Canada, on the other hand, will meet Team Khalifa Cebu in the tilt which is also sponsored by MNL Kingpin, Molten, Pocari Sweat, Burlington, Swish, and Buffalo's Wings N' Things.