THE PHILIPPINE Basketball Association is now ready for a third season of the D-League after the previous two met the expectations set by league officials including commissioner Chito Salud.
The D-League is set to open its doors in October of this year but all signs are pointing to a bigger and better one as officials are laying down the groundwork for the tournament as early as now.
“The PBA D-League has met our expectations in as far as developing players and even coaches for the PBA,” said Salud in his press statement. “The upcoming PBA Draft should cement that further, with most of the top picks likely to come from those who had played in the PBA D-League the past two seasons.”
Fil-foreign players Cliff Hodge, Chris Ellis, Alex Mallari and Keith Jensen and homegrown aces Vic Manuel, Calvin Abueva, Lester Alvarez, Garvo Lanete and several more PBA D-League stalwarts figure to be high picks during the annual PBA Draft slated on Aug. 19 at the Robinson’s Midtown in Manila.
Early indications point to the continued participation of several teams in the PBA D-League led by three-time champion NLEX Road Warriors./Correspondent Jonas Panerio