Camille Naredo

Fil-Am Nation USA celebrates after winning the Division 1 championship in the NBTC National Finals, March 29, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Handout/NBTC

Fil-Am Nation USA celebrates after winning the Division 1 championship in the NBTC National Finals, March 29, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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NBTC

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774791153859FilAmNationUSA.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Fil-Am Nation USA celebrates after winning the Division 1 championship in the NBTC National Finals, March 29, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Handout/NBTC" width="960"/>Fil-Am Nation USA celebrates after winning the Division 1 championship in the NBTC National Finals, March 29, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Handout/NBTC</div>MANILA -- Fil-Am Nation USA displayed tremendous grit to ensure that they will get to keep the NBTC crown.Fil-Am Nation USA annexed a third straight NBTC-National championship in gutsy fashion, outlasting UST x D&#x27;Generals in overtime, 85-75, in the Division 1 title game on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.Blaze Johnson posted a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double to go with four assists en route to the Ato Badolato Most Outstanding Player honors, while Quali Giran stuffed the stat sheet himself with 23 markers, five boards, and five dimes.Johnson and Giran converted back-to-back buckets to knot the count at 75 heading into the closing stretch of regulation.The Tiger Cubs could have regained the lead as Kirk Canete set up Carsson Vidanes down low, only for the ball to slip through the latter&#x27;s two hands with 18.1 seconds left in regulation.Though Johnson was unable to win the title outright in the next possession, his baseline jumper early in overtime proved to be the go-ahead basket, as all in all, Fil-Am Nation USA went on a furious 14-0 endgame fightback to seal the deal in its three-peat.Daniel Johnson, Elias Gish, and Bas Margate also did their part, as their effort and energy held UST x D&#x27;Generals scoreless in the last seven minutes of play.&quot;Throughout the tournament, we always talk about stops, or kills, or a string of stops. This time, we can say defense did win a championship,&quot; said shot-caller Jeff Dosada, who follows in the footsteps of Byron Scott and Chris Gavina as champion coaches.The Fil-Ams now stand alongside National U, which won thrice in a row from 2019-23, as rulers of the Philippine national under-19 championship for three consecutive tournaments.Johnlee Melano fronted the Tiger Cubs&#x27; tremendous try with 25 points on top of four rebounds and two steals. Running out of gas in the endgame, however, they fell short in their quest for redemption after having just been dethroned in UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball.Nonetheless, Melano and UST x D&#x27;Generals teammate Joaqui Ludovice were selected to the Mythical 5, alongside Clintone Pico of Arceegee-St. Clare and Fritz John Gonzales of University of San Jose-Recoletos.<div> <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774791172959MapuaRedRobins1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Mapua Red Robins celebrate after winning the Division 2 championship in the NBTC National Finals, March 29, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Handout/NBTC" width="960"/>The Mapua Red Robins celebrate after winning the Division 2 championship in the NBTC National Finals, March 29, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Handout/NBTC</div>Division 2, meanwhile, saw a new king crowned, with Mapua coming out on top of Top Flight Canada, 79-75.Froilan Reyes showed the way for the Red Robins with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, all while being hailed as Ato Badolato Most Outstanding Player, as well as named into the Mythical 5 together with teammate Ray Relojo.Rounding out the top five performers in Division 2 are Riley Santa Juana of Top Flight Canada, Jason Bundalian of Crossover Canada, and Duke Solon of Mindanao regional champion RSY Group of Companies.

Fil-Am Nation USA displayed tremendous grit to ensure that they will get to keep the NBTC crown.

Fil-Am Nation USA displayed tremendous grit to ensure that they will get to keep the NBTC crown.

Fil-Am Nation USA outlasts UST x D'Generals in OT to claim NBTC three-peat

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Fil-Am Nation USA outlasts UST x D'Generals in OT to claim NBTC three-peat

ABS-CBN News

Published March 29, 2026 09:36 PM PHT

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