PBA Development League in the works

MANILA, Philippines – PBA commissioner Chito Salud has crafted the blueprint of the PBA Developmental League which the pro league intends to launch in March, serving as the transition tourney for collegiate players hoping to play in the pros.

Salud is presenting the PBA D-League mechanics to the PBA board during its meeting on Jan. 25.

The league board approved in principle the proposed PBA D-League in its last meeting on Dec. 7.

Board chairman Rene Pardo said formal approval would be handed out pending Salud’s presentation of the refined concept of the farm league inspired by the NBA D-League.

Healthwell Nutraceuticals is the latest non-PBA member to have expressed interest in the league.

Other PBA outsiders which may join are Phoenix Petroleum, the Lamoiyan Group, Pascual Laboratories and Toyota-Otis.

The San Miguel group, the Smart-PLDT group, Coca-Cola and Air21 are PBA members expected to form and run farm teams in the D-League.

 “The consensus was that we need a jump-off league for amateurs looking to go up to the PBA. The board made some inputs for the commissioner to consider. The commissioner will represent the concept in the next board meeting,” said Pardo.

 A major concern is how farm teams of PBA member ball clubs will be treated compared to non-PBA teams looking to join the D-League.

The consensus among the PBA board members, however, is that the D-League is needed specially with the status of the Philippine Basketball League uncertain.

PBA officials believe that a commercial amateur league plays an important role in the development of basketball in the country.

The proposal is for the PBA itself to run its own developmental league featuring players aged 17-26.

Their initial target is a short three-month tourney among eight teams, playing two days (Tuesdays and Thursdays) a week.

“It could be farm teams or affiliate teams by PBA member ball clubs and/or outsiders,” said Salud.

The youthful PBA commissioner stressed the idea is to help develop Philippine basketball and encourage greater participation in the game by opening new areas of competition.