PBA D-League formally sets in motion

Games March 12, 2011
(The Arena, San Juan)
11:00 a.m. – Opening ceremonies
12:00 noon - RnW Pacific Pipes vs. PC Gilmore
2:00 p.m. – Maynilad vs. Cobra Energy Drink

A new era dawns in the country’s basketball landscape as the PBA
Developmental League (PBA D-League) formally sets in motion Saturday at The
Arena in San Juan.

An exciting doubleheader ushers in the staging of the maiden
tournament to be known
as the Foundation Cup, with Pacific Pipes and PC Gilmore providing the
breakthrough game of the newest cage tournament in the land designed
to hone talents eventually play for Asia’s pioneering pro league.

The two teams take to the floor just before noon, shortly after a
lively opening ceremony officially welcoming the 13 pioneering ball
clubs.

PBA chairman Rene Pardo and PBA Commissioner Chito Salud will grace
the short but colrful rites to welcome the PBA D-League’s member clubs and
declare the conference open.

From the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), the Cobra Ironmen take
their act to the D-League, battling the Maynilad Water Dragons in the
main game set at 2 p.m.

Handled by collegiate champion coach Frankie Lim, the Dragons are
bannered by the
core of the San Beda squad that went undefeated in 18 games last
season to win the
NCAA men’s basketball title. At the helm of Maynilad’s campaign are
Red Lion stalwarts Garvo Lanete, Rome de la Rosa and season and Finals
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Sudan Daniel.

Cobra will be mentored by former University of the East Warriors head
coach Lawrence Chongson with former PBL MVP Paul Lee as their
designated go-to-guy.

PC Gilmore meanwhile, will be boosted by the roster of the St. Benilde
Blazers under Coach Richard del Rosario, whose wards will be headed by 2010 NCAA
Rookie of the Year Carl John Lastimosa, nephew of PBA great and
current Alaska assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa.

The PBA D-League’s inaugural season will also see former playmaker
Topex Robinson finally branching out into coaching as he is tasked to
call the shots for Pacific Pipes, which tapped the services of
one-time PBL MVP Vic Manuel and PBA free agent Jim Bruce Viray.

The 13 teams have been bracketed into two groups for the classification phase.

PC Gilmore and Pacific Pipes are bunched together in Group A along with Pharex
Naproxen Sodium, Freego Jeans, Blackwater Elite and the NLEX Road Warriors.

Belonging to Group B are Maynilad, Cobra, Café France, Cebuana Lhuillier, FCA
Cultivators, Max! Bond Super Glue Sumos and Junior Powerade Tigers.

The top two teams in each group advance to the second round of the
playoffs outright.(pr)