MANILA -- Milcu Sports and Got Skills Basketball will hold the 5x5 Boys U16 Talent Identification Program, an event which aims to provide young aspirants the stage to showcase their talent and skills while giving basketball scouts the platform to identify and develop future hoop stars.

It will take place from February 3 until February 7 at Greenhills West Clubhouse, San Juan.

"For over a decade, Milcu Sports and Got Skills Basketball have remained committed to giving back to Philippine basketball. This free tournament serves as a vital platform for deserving young players to gain exposure, enhancing their chances of being discovered and advancing their basketball careers," Tournament and Clinic Director Coach Allen Ricardo said.

The program is endorsed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), presented by communications giant Smart.

16 teams from various provinces in the country will join the tournament. They will be divided into four groups and will play in a single-round elimination format from February 3 to February 5.

Top teams from each group after the elimination round will clinch an outright quarterfinal berth while the second and third seeds will compete in a qualification round to quarterfinals on February 6. The fourth-ranked teams, however, will bow out of contention.

Winners will then advance to the semifinals on February 7 before finalists duke it out for the championship set later in the same day.

Group A is composed of NCR-Passion Sports, Leyte-Dream Big Leyte, Bukidnon-Stars Basketball Academy x IBACM, and Cavite-One Cavite Aces Solar while Group B features NCR-More Than Just Hoops Academy, Bulacan-Blue Hawks, Pangasinan-ang Galing!, and  Pampanga-Big Dreams Ballers.

Making up Group C are NCR-SGA x LGR, NCR-Muntinlupa Cafe Uno, NCR-Jhoop Basketball, and Laguna-Sentries while Group D has NCR-Safestep, Ilocos-Spartans, Cebu-Jax Basketball, and Bacolod-TJ7 Basketball.

"With 16 teams and over 250 players competing over five days, this event promises high-level basketball action," Ricardo added.

"Notably, more than 12 players standing 6’5” or taller will take the court—offering an exciting glimpse into the future of Philippine basketball as we continue to prepare for international competition, where both height and skill are crucial factors."

An opening ceremony will kick things off at 7 a.m. on February 3 followed by the match-up between NCR-Passion Sports and Leyte at 8 :30 a.m. and the battle of Bukidnon and Cavite at 9:45 a.m.

NCR-MTJH and Bulacan will face off at 11 a.m. while Pangasinan and NCR-SGAxLGR will take on Pampanga and Muntinlupa respectively at 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

NCR-Jhoop squares off with Laguna at 2:45 p.m. before NCR-Safestep PH and Cebu close out the opening day with an encounter with Ilocos and Bacolod at 1 p.m. and 2:15 pm.