PBA D-League lures 12 teams

MANILA, Philippines - PBA D-League founding members Café France, Boracay Rum and Cebuana Lhuillier head nine other teams which officially signified their intention to compete in the Aspirants’ Cup set to fire off Oct. 27.

Cagayan Valley, Jumbo Plastic, Lyceum of the Philippine College, Racal Motorsales Corp., San Sebastian College, Metro Pacific Investment Corp., Wangs Basketball, AMA University and Manny Pacquiao’s MP Hotel also submitted their letters of intent, beating the July 30 deadline set the PBA commissioner Chito Salud for teams interested to compete in the opening conference of the league’s fifth season.

“We’re happy with the turnout. I assure our D-League fans that this season will be as interesting and as exciting as the previous conferences. Our partnership with ATC@IBC Asian Television Content Corporation and Stoplight Media Group makes me all the more optimistic that this season will be a success,” Salud said.

Salud said the official list of participants for the Aspirants’ Cup will be announced as soon as the teams settle the required tournament fee on or before the Sept. 1 deadline.

In their letters of intent, Lyceum, Racal Motorsales Corp., San Sebastian College, Metro Pacific Investment Corp and AMA University indicated that they will be fielding school-based teams.

Salud also reiterated that Fil-foreign players wishing to join the PBA D-League Rookie Draft can still submit their application until Aug. 22 while local born applicants have until Aug. 28.

The second PBA D-League Rookie Draft is set on Sept. 16 at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City.

This season is expected to be a wide open race with perennial champion NLEX and Blackwater taking their acts to the pro league which opens its 40th season on Oct. 19.