NGBL Executive Committee Chairman Alfrancis Chua. Photo handout. 

MANILA — NGBL Executive Committee Chairman Alfrancis Chua has been a long-time supporter of student-athletes in the country and their journey to the professional ranks.

Chua, who is the Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) Executive Committee Chairman, previously helped his high school alma mater Colegio de San Juan de Letran in winning a three-peat in the NCAA, and is now aiding his collegiate squad University of Santo Tomas as they look to reclaim their glory in the UAAP.

But for the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Sports Director and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Team Governor, it is now time to focus on highlighting the top high school hoopers of the country.

"We want to expose them," said Chua, who will be working alongside NGBL Commissioner and PBA legend Ronnie Magsanoc, Tournament Director LA Tenorio of Ginebra, Program Director Bonnie Tan of NorthPort, and Operations Manager and PBA Chief Statistician Fidel Mangonon III. 

The NGBL, which is also led by its President Bigboy Cheng and Finance head Eric Ang, is looking to provide the Philippines' best under-19 players their newest avenue to showcase their skills — a vision that Chua and the rest of the executive committee share and push for.

READ: This new league aims to give platform for high school hoopers

"We want people to see yung mga high school players natin, and so they can explore kung ano yung meron tayo," said Chua, who was also recently elected new Vice Chairman of the PBA Board of Governors.

"Kasi karamihan, pagdating ng college, they would be getting players from a lot of other countries. ‘Di katulad dito, gusto naming maka-develop ng homegrown, na talagang magagaling na galing dito sa atin."

Aside from giving the top HS players and their respective teams the best platform beyond the established leagues in the country, what the former Ginebra coach wants is for them to eventually transition as the next collegiate and professional stars.

"We're very excited na makita kung sinong makakapaglaro sa UAAP, NCAA, at eventually makalaro sa PBA. Excited kami kung paano namin ipo-promote yung mga players," emphasized Chua. "Pasisikatin natin yung mga players dito." 

The NGBL will open on August 11 at the Tanduay Gym, and all Sunday and holiday games of the league will be held there. Meanwhile, Saturday schedules will be played at the Aero Center in Quezon City.

The 15 squads in the inaugural season of the league will be divided into two groups with each group having a single round-robin elimination. The top four teams per group will then advance to the crossover knockout quarterfinals. 

The semifinals and the final will also be determined via KO games, and the team that emerges as champion will receive the Php 300,000 cash prize.

Among those that will compete are UST, Ateneo de Manila University, Far Eastern University, National University, the University of the East, Xavier School, and MGC New Life Christian Academy.

Completing the cast are the NCAA HS' Letran, San Beda University, La Salle Greenhills, Mapua University, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, Arellano University, Jose Rizal University, and Lyceum of the Philippines University.