Madness has started as the provincial teams hit the road for the 2026 Smart-National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) National Finals presented by SM Supermalls.

Twenty-four teams from the Southern Philippines take their first steps in Oroquieta City for the Mindanao Regional Championship that started on Thursday with four tickets to the Nationals hanging in the balance.

“We’re more than excited to hit the ground running. The local qualifying tournaments have unearthed some of the best in their respective provinces and we’re more than energized to see them test each other here in the Regional Championships,” NBTC program director Eric Altamirano said.

For the second straight year, Oroquieta City serves as the gracious host for the first of four Regional Championships and Mayor Lemuel Acosta is hopeful that this staging would also produce future stars in Philippine basketball from Mindanao.

“Oroquieta City is known as a sports region and one of my goals is to produce players who can be recruited in colleges and even pros,” added Altamirano of the competition that will run from 15 to 18 January at Oroquieta City Bayfront Arena.

Last year’s Palarong Pambansa Most Valuable Player Rene Baterbonia banners the names to watch as he leads the charge for Off-Campus Residences x Toyomoto from Davao City.

The Jess Evangelio-coached side are aiming for the three-peat and more importantly, a return trip to the National Finals, which is set from 22 to 29 March.

But the competition is a lot stiffer this time out, with host team The Misfits from Oroquieta City, Toyland Bistro of Cagayan de Oro City, and Team Parola Panaon from Misamis Occidental all emerging as contenders for the crown.