The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) yesterday firmed up a partnership with SM Supermalls in its quest to comb the country for talented young cagers who could be given the chance to compete in the World Youth Games in July and the World Youth Olympics in 2010.

The new partnership comes as a boost for the SBP 33 Championship, a nationwide search for youth cagers in three divisions, whose champions will represent the Philippines in the two newly-created events by the International Olympic Committee and the International Basketball Federation (Fiba). Both events will be held in Singapore.

Manny Pangilinan, SBP president and chief supporter of basketball and boxing in the country, inked the partnership with top officials of SM Supermalls yesterday at the Activity Center of the SM Megamall, making the leading mall chain as the official venue of the 3-on-3 nationwide basketball eliminations, with the national championsip to be held also at the Megamall.

SBP 33 is the SBP’s response to Fiba’s creation of 3-on-3 youth basketball, which is now an Olympic event.