NBTC Negros Island Qualifiers Crown Central Negros Champion

South and North battles intensify

If the opening weekend introduced the fire of grassroots basketball across Negros Island, the January 24–25 rounds poured fuel on it.

From early morning tip-offs to roaring late-afternoon finishes, the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Negros Island Local Qualifying Tournament shifted into high gear as elimination games intensified, seasons were put on the line, and Central Negros crowned its first cluster champion.

Across North Negros, Central Negros, and South Negros, every possession suddenly carried weight — and the young athletes played like they knew it.

North Negros: Tight Battles and Sudden Swings

North Negros once again delivered the drama fans had come to expect.

Team Calatrava Basketball pulled off one of the day’s closest wins, edging the Cadiz City Dukes, 66–65, in a game that had both benches standing for the final minutes. It was the kind of gritty finish that defines tournament basketball.

E.B.M. Tumandok answered back with authority, overpowering Victorias City, 78–68, showing resilience after earlier setbacks.
And in a clash that felt like a preview of playoff intensity, Talisay Notre Dame outlasted One Silay, 88–86, in a thrilling back-and-forth contest that kept the crowd on edge until the final buzzer.

With each win, North Negros’ race toward the semifinals tightened, setting the stage for an explosive January 31 showdown.

Central Negros: Power Performances and a Championship Push

Central Negros was where dominance met destiny.

LCC–B Davies El Tzino continued its steady march, brushing aside Spartans Basketball, 74–49, while CSAV–Titans sent a loud message with a commanding 95–33 victory over Shockwave Basketball — one of the most lopsided wins of the tournament.

RGG Farm stunned UNO–Recoletos Bacolod in a nail-biter, 81–79, proving heart can match talent when it matters most.

Bacolod Tay Tung High School stayed in championship form, dismantling La Salle–Bacolod, 85–61, to secure the top seed heading into the semifinals.

Sunday brought the moment everyone had been waiting for.

Bacolod Tay Tung High School and CSAV–Titans powered past their semifinal opponents to meet in a high-stakes championship clash. The final was tense, physical, and packed with emotion — and when the dust settled, it was CSAV–Titans who stood tallest, claiming the Central Negros Cluster championship with a hard-fought 62–57 victory.

LCC–B Davies El Tzino closed their campaign strong, taking third place with an 86–54 win over RGG Farm.

A champion was crowned — but the road to the regional stage had only begun.

South Negros: Momentum Shifts and Playoff Intensity

South Negros continued to deliver nonstop action.

Team Mylan held off Sparta Hinigaran, 72–68, while Sipalay City survived a high-scoring duel with Equiper Scorpions, pulling out a thrilling 93–88 victory.

MMBC edged Bago NBTC in a tight contest, 73–70, while Pintok Tigers–Binalbagan once again proved clutch, defeating Hiliusa Pontevedra, 73–70.

Sunday saw the intensity rise even further.

Pintok Tigers–Binalbagan powered past MMBC, 72–68, to keep their championship hopes alive. Bleacher Sports Bar Team A delivered one of the day’s most convincing performances, routing Sipalay City, 97–71, while Equiper Scorpions rebounded strong with an 86–52 win over Sparta Hinigaran.

With eliminations still ongoing and the semifinals looming on February 1, South Negros remains wide open — every team hungry, every game unpredictable.

The Road Gets Tougher

With Central Negros already crowning its champion and North and South Negros heading toward their own decisive battles, the NBTC Negros Island qualifiers have officially entered their most exciting phase.
What started as hopeful playoffs has now become a test of composure, endurance, and championship mindset.

And as January 31 and February 1 draw near — bringing semifinal clashes, battle-for-third matchups, and championship games — one thing is certain: Negros Island is no longer just producing exciting basketball moments, but forging champions ready to carry their clusters with pride into the NBTC Visayas Regional Championships in Dumaguete City from February 10 to 14, 2026.* (NBTC)