Perpetual's Lebron Jhames Daep and DLSZ's Kieffer Alas. Handout/NBTC

MANILA -- Las Pinas City has transformed into the center of high school basketball, as the top two players in the 2025 Foot Locker NBTC 24 hail from schools from the south.

UAAP Season 87 MVP Kieffer Alas of De La Salle Zobel emerged as No. 1 in the annual ranking of the top under-19 players in the Philippines, while not that far behind is Perpetual's Lebron Jhames Daep.

Alas, who grew up and still resides in Las Pinas, averaged an all-around 20.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals for the Jr. Archers in the recently-concluded UAAP season to take over the top spot occupied by now-Ateneo lead guard Jared Bahay in back-to-back editions. 

Daep, meanwhile, jumped from No. 11 a year ago to second thanks to his norms of 15.9 markers, 8.5 boards, 1.8 steals, and 1.3 assists in the ongoing NCAA season for the front-running Jr. Altas.

READ: What's next for Kieffer Alas after MVP season with Junior Archers?

READ: No.2 ranked Lebron Jhames Daep seizes chance to learn, inspire others in NBTC

With that, Alas will lead Team Hustle for the second year in a row, as they will be challenged by Daep-fronted Team Heart in the 2025 Foot Locker NBTC All-Star Game on April 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Alas will be backstopped by DLSZ teammate Bonn Daja; fellow UAAP standouts Cabs Cabonilas (FEU-Diliman), Jay-M Leal (Ateneo), Earl Medina (Adamson), Joaqui Ludovice (University of Santo Tomas), and Migs Palanca (NU-Nazareth School); NCAA talents Jhuniel Dela Rama (Letran) and Guillian Quines (La Salle Green Hills); Regional Championship (RC) MVPs Kenneth Avila (North Luzon) and John Lloyd Martinez (Visayas), and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu's Froilan Maglasang.

"I'm so thankful to NBTC because I've been here for three years now. This time, I want to make the most of this opportunity para naman maka-inspire ng mga young kids," said Alas, who was the youngest All-Star in NBTC history back when he was a 16 year old in 2023.

On the other hand, flanking Daep will be another Perpetual star in Jan Roluna and NCAA rivals-turned-teammates MJ Vailoces of San Beda, Sean Salvador of Mapua, Daniel Padilla of Letran, and Ian Cuajao of EAC. Rounding out their team are UST's Koji Buenaflor, SHS-Ateneo's Jelomar Rota, Adamson's Mark Esperanza, NUNS' Mac Alfanta, and RC MVPs Jancarl Gadlan from South Luzon and Karlocaezar Estomo from Mindanao.

"Sobrang excited ko po kasi dito sa NBTC, nabibigyan ang mga bata ng chance para ipakita ang laro nila sa mas maraming tao," said Daep, whose favorite NBA player is not his namesake, but rather, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Rising stars from international and regional teams during the 2025 NBTC National Finals will also be added to the lineups of Team Hustle and Team Heart. 

Together with the annual exhibition of the best of the best young talents, there will yet again be an All-Star Game from the Manila Live girls tournament, as well as the Manila Showcase, pitting the top players from Manila Live against other standouts of the National Finals.

READ: Fil-Canadian prospect named best Fil-foreign player in hoops showcase

Here's the final 2025 Foot Locker NBTC 24:

1) Kieffer Alas, UAAP/DLSZ

2) Lebron Jhames Daep, NCAA/Perpetual

3) Cabs Cabonilas, UAAP/FEU-Diliman

4) Mark Esperanza, UAAP/Adamson

5) Koji Buenaflor, UAAP/UST

6) Guillian Quines, NCAA/LSGH

7) Jay-M Leal, UAAP/Ateneo

8) MJ Vailoces, NCAA/San Beda

9) Mac Alfanta, UAAP/NUNS

10) Bonn Daja, UAAP/DLSZ

11) Jelomar Rota, CESAFI/SHS-Ateneo

12) Jan Roluna, NCAA/Perpetual

13) Marc Burgos, UAAP/FEU-Diliman

14) Jhuniel Dela Rama, NCAA/Letran

15) Sean Salvador, NCAA/Mapua

16) Earl Medina, UAAP/Adamson

17) Daniel Padilla, NCAA/Letran

18) Ian Cuajao, NCAA/EAC

19) Joaqui Ludovice, UAAP/UST

20) Froilan Maglasang, CESAFI/SHS-Ateneo

21) Karlocaezar Estomo, Mindanao RC/Toyomoto Auto Supply

22) Kenneth Avila, North Luzon RC/EZ Jersey-Doc Boleros

23) Jancarl Gadlan, South Luzon RC/Chrisveil Sports

24) John Lloyd Martinez, Visayas RC/LCC-Bacolod El Tzino Davies

* Migs Palanca, UAAP/NUNS (alternate)

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