LSGH head coach Renren Ritualo. Handout photo.

MANILA — After a finals stint in the NCAA Season 98 juniors' basketball tournament, La Salle Greenhills fell short of reaching the following year's Final Four.

The Renren Ritualo-coached squad placed seventh in the 10-man field with a 3-6 record as they dealt with the departure of the likes of former Juniors MVP Luis Pablo and their main big Seven Gagate.

That is why as early as now, Ritualo is already ramping up their preparations for their campaign in the NCAA's centennial year.

A part of their road en route to Season 100 is their upcoming Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) stint, as Ritualo is optimistic that the newest Under-19 league can help turn their fortunes next year. 

"Every coach wants every tournament to be very competitive," said Ritualo. 

"So, the first question that I asked when I was invited was sino yung mga nag join na teams? And when I saw that it was very competitive, I decided to join," added the 2002 PBA Rookie of the Year.

LSGH will face the likes of Letran, Perpetual Ateneo, FEU, and NU in the league that will be led by NGBL commissioner Ronnie Magsanoc, San Miguel Sports Director and Executive Committee Chairman Alfrancis Chua, Tournament Director LA Tenorio of Ginebra, Program Director Bonnie Tan of NorthPort, and Operations Manager & PBA Chief Statistician Fidel Mangonon III. 

With the quality of the 15 teams that are set to participate in the tilt, Magsanoc is confident that the NGBL will feature high-octane action between the country's best high school squads.

"I believe that the NGBL has formulated a competition wherein the top-notch schools are going to be able to compete against one another," he said.

"Our focus for now is to provide the best possible avenue for high school teams to compete in. Alongside this are value formation, discipline, obedience, and at the same time, equipping them with the lens of playing the game the right way," added the three-time PBA champion who is also working with NGBL President Bigboy Cheng and Finance Head Eric Ang.

To further ensure the balance between the participating team, the league will be holding its Group Draw on Monday at District 8 Manila in San Juan City, and the proceedings will be:

1. The fifteen (15) teams will be grouped into two (2)- Group A with eight (8) teams and Group B with seven (7).

2. The drawing of lots will be as follows:

a. The top 2 participating teams from the NCAA last season — Letran and Perpetual — will draw lots to determine which of them will go to Group A and Group B.

b. The top 2 participating teams from the UAAP last season — NU & FEU — will draw lots to determine which of them will go to Group A and Group B.

c. The No. 3 & 4-ranked participating teams from the NCAA last season — Mapua & San Beda — will draw lots to determine which of them will go to Group A and Group B.

d. The 3 remaining teams from the UAAP - Ateneo, UST, and UE — will draw lots to determine which 2 teams will go to Group A and which 1 team will go to Group B.

e. The 4 remaining teams from the NCAA - Lyceum, Arellano, JRU, and LSGH - will draw lots to determine which 2 teams will go to Group A and which of the 2 remaining teams will go to Group B.

f. The 2 Fil-Chi teams - MGC & Xavier - will draw lots to determine which of them will go to Group A and Group B.

The NGBL opens on August 11 at the Tanduay Gym where all Sunday and Holiday games will be played. On the other hand, Saturday matchups are to be played at the Aero Center in Quezon City.