PBA D-League explained

PBA D-League
Pixels:220px
Current Season:2024 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup
Sport:Basketball
Founded:2011
Inaugural:2011
Teams:6
Country:Philippines
Motto:"The Road to the PBA Starts Here."
Continent:FIBA Asia (Asia)
Champion:Eco Oil-La Salle Green Archers
(3rd title)
Most Champs:NLEX Road Warriors
(6 titles)
Tv:RPTV, PBA Rush

The PBA D-League, or PBA Developmental League, is the official minor league of the Philippine Basketball Association.

History

The PBA D-League was conceptualized after the collapse of the proposed merger between the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Liga Pilipinas after the staging of the Tournament of the Philippines which was composed by PBL and Liga Pilipinas teams. PBA Commissioner Chito Salud proposed the formation of a PBA D-League, which will fill the void left by the PBL. On January 25, 2011, the PBA Board of Governors approved the proposal.

The maiden tournament, named "Foundation Cup" began on March 12, 2011 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. The tournament composed of 13 teams, with five teams (Junior Powerade, NLEX, Maynilad, Freego and Cafe France) having affiliation with existing PBA teams.[1] Four teams (Cobra Energy Drink, Agri-Nature Inc./FCA, Pharex, and Cafe France) from the Philippine Basketball League filed for application in the PBA D-League, when they failed to acquire a sixth team in order to smoothly run the league.[2] The NLEX Road Warriors became the champions of the tournament, winning two games to none against the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems.

The second tournament, dubbed as the "Aspirant's Cup" began on October 20. Four teams (Maynilad, Junior Powerade, Max Bond and Pharex) did not join the tournament. However, two new teams (Boracay Rum and Informatics) made their debut in the D-League.[3]

The D-League has held its own rookie draft since the 2013–14 PBA season.[4]

In August 2015, the PBA approved plans for a nationwide D-League and a Women's D-League that will open soon. From 2016, the men's competition was first to be held in three separate, simultaneous tournaments, first in Luzon and later in the Visayas and Mindanao. The three regional champions would join the national championship round which would be joined by Metro Manila teams.[5] However the plan was never fully realized with the Northern Luzon tournament never finished and the Visayas tournament cancelled.[6]

The 2020 season was indefinitely postponed in March 2020 with only some games of the Aspirants Cup played[7] before the season was cancelled altogether in September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] The league has not held games as of 2021. The resumption of the D-League has been hampered by the fact that league heavily relies on school-based teams.[9]

Teams

Teams in the PBA D-League had to pay a participating fee either on a per conference or per season basis. Unlike the PBA, the number of participating teams may vary per conference.[10]

Current teams (2024)

TeamCompany / CollegeJoinedTitlesHead coachPBA affiliate
CCI–Yengskivel CrusadersCornerstone College (SJDM, Bulacan)
Yengskivel Sportswear
2024 Aspirants'align=center 0Arwin Villamor Adina
CEU ScorpionsCentro Escolar University2017 Foundationalign=center 0Jeff Perlas
EcoOil–La Salle Green Archers2020 Aspirants'align=center 3Gian Nazario
GoTorakku–St. Clare SaintsTorakku Motor Assembly
St. Clare College of Caloocan
2024 Aspirants'align=center 0Jinino Manansala
Keanzel BelieversKeanzel Basketball2024 Aspirants'align=center 0Mark Herrera
Marinerong Pilipino Skippers–San Beda2017 Foundationalign=center 0Yuri Escueta

Former teams

TeamOwnerPBA affiliateFirst tournamentLast tournament
FCA Cultivators
Big Chill Super Chargers
Agri-Nurture, Inc. 2011 Foundation 2014 Foundation
Maynilad Water Dragons 2011 Foundation 2011 Foundation
Max Bond Super Glue Sumos Magnaprime Corporation 2011 Foundation 2011 Foundation
Pharex Naproxen Sodium Bidang Generix Pascual Laboratories, Inc. 2011 Foundation 2011 Foundation
Freego Jeans EINSCO Inc. 2011 Foundation 2012 Aspirant's
Cobra Energy Drink Iron Men 2011 Foundation 2012 Aspirant's
Dub Unlimited Wheelers Mega Dub Unlimited Specialist Inc. 2012 Aspirant's 2012 Aspirant's
Junior Powerade Tigers 2011 Foundation 2012 Foundation
PC Gilmore Wizards PC Gilmore, Inc. 2011 Aspirant's 2012 Aspirant's
RnW Pacific Pipes SteelmastersRnW Pacific Pipes Corporation 2011 Foundation 2012 Foundation
Erase XFoliant ErasersUniversal Knowledge DermPharma, Inc.2012 Foundation 2012 Aspirants
Informatics IconsInformatics International University 2012 Aspirants 2013 Foundation
Fruitas Shakers Fruitas Group 2012 Aspirants 2013 Foundation
Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Giants AliKaiser International Incorporated 2013 Foundation 2015 Foundation
EA Regen Med Regens EA Regen Medical Group, Inc. 2013 Foundation 2013 Foundation
Arellano Chiefs2013 Aspirants 2013 Aspirants
NLEX Road Warriors 2011 Foundation 2014 Foundation
Boracay Rum Waves 2012 Foundation 2013 Foundation
Blackwater Sports Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. 2011 Foundation 2014 Foundation
Hog's Breath Cafe Razorbacks Hog's Breath Cafe 2013 Foundation 2014 Foundation
Derulo Accelero Oilers UR Value Corporation 2013 Aspirants 2014 Foundation
MJM M-Builders Mercado Builders
MJM Productions, Inc.
2013 Aspirants 2014 Aspirants
Bread Story Smashing Bakers Bread Story Philippines 2014 Aspirants 2014 Aspirants
Cagayan Valley Rising Suns 2012 Foundation 2015 Foundation
Hapee Fresh Fighters Lamoiyan Corporation 2014 Aspirants 2015 Foundation
Cebuana Lhuillier Gems 2011 Foundation 2015 Foundation
MP Hotel Warriors 2014 Aspirants 2015 Foundation
LiverMarin Guardians -
San Sebastian Golden Stags
2015 Foundation 2015 Foundation
BDO - NU Bulldogs 2013 Aspirants 2016 Aspirants
Phoenix Accelerators Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. 2016 Aspirants 2016 Foundation
QRS / JAM Liner -
UP Fighting Maroons
2016 Aspirants 2016 Aspirants
Z.C. Mindanao Aguilas Kings Janitorial Services and Cooperative of Zamboanga 2016 Aspirants 2016 Foundation
Victoria Sports - MLQU Stallions 2017 Aspirants 2017 Aspirants
Blustar Detergent Dragons - Malaysia Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc.
Westports Malaysia Holdings
2016 Foundation 2017 Aspirants
Cafe France Bakers Cafe France Corporation 2011 Foundation 2017 Aspirants
Racal Motors Alibaba
Caida Tile Masters
Racal Group of Companies 2014 Aspirants 2017 Foundation
Flying V Thunder Flying V Petroleum 2017 Foundation 2017 Foundation
Tanduay Rhum Masters 2011 Foundation 2017 Foundation
Mila's Lechon Mighty Roasters Mila's Lechon and Restaurant 2018 Aspirants 2018 Aspirants
Akari - Adamson Soaring Falcons 2018 Aspirants 2018 Aspirants
Gamboa Coffee Mixers Universal Knowledge DermPharma, Inc. 2017 Foundation 2018 Aspirants
Zark's Jawbreakers
- LPU Pirates
2017 Foundation 2018 Aspirants
JRU Heavy Bombers 2012 Foundation 2018 Aspirants
Cignal HD Hawkeyes
Cignal HD - Ateneo Blue Eagles
2017 Aspirants 2019 Aspirants
Che'Lu Bar & Grill Revellers Hydra Connection Entertainment Corporation 2018 Aspirants 2019 Aspirants
Go For Gold Scratchers
- College of Saint Benilde Blazers
2018 Aspirants 2019 Aspirants
The Masterpiece / CD14 Designs - Trinity Stallions 2019 Aspirants 2019 Aspirants
Metropac Movers
- San Beda Red Lions
2019 Aspirants 2019 Aspirants
SMDC - NU Bulldogs 2019 Aspirants 2019 Aspirants
Batangas EAC Generals 2017 Aspirants 2019 Aspirants
Petron - Letran Knights 2019 Aspirants 2019 Aspirants
FEU Tamaraws 2019 Aspirants 2020 Aspirants
Apex Fuel - San Sebastian Golden Stags 2019 Aspirants 2022 Aspirants
Builders Warehouse - UST Growling Tigers 2019 Aspirants 2022 Aspirants
Nail Talk & Beauty Spa
- St. Dominic Savio Unicorns
Nail Talk & Beauty Spa
St. Dominic Savio College
2019 Foundation 2019 Foundation
iWalk Chargers iWalk Philippines 2019 Foundation 2019 Foundation
Italianos Homme Italianos Homme Shoes 2019 Foundation 2019 Foundation
McDavid Apparels - De La Salle Araneta Stallions 2019 Aspirants 2019 Foundation
Diliman College Blue Dragons Diliman College 2019 Aspirants 2020 Aspirants
FamilyMart - Enderun Titans 2019 Aspirants 2020 Aspirants
BRT Sumisip Basilan - St. Clare Saints 2019 Aspirants 2019 Foundation
Hyperwash Vipers Hyperwash Laundromat 2019 Foundation 2019 Foundation
Asia's Lashes Soldiers 2019 Foundation 2019 Foundation
Alberei Kings 2019 Foundation 2019 Foundation
Hazchem Green Warriors 2019 Foundation 2019 Foundation
Black Mamba Energy Drink Corbridge Group Philippines 2019 Foundation 2019 Foundation
ADG Dong - Mapua Cardinals 2020 Aspirants 2020 Aspirants
TIP Engineers 2020 Aspirants 2020 Aspirants
Adalem Construction - St. Clare College Adalem Construction
St. Clare College of Caloocan
2022 Aspirants 2022 Aspirants
AMA Online Education Titans 2014 Aspirants 2023 Aspirants'
Perpetual Help Altas 2018 Aspirants' 2023 Aspirants'
PSP Gymers Philippine Sports Performance Fitness Centre 2023 Aspirants' 2023 Aspirants'
Wang's Basketball–Letran 2013 Aspirants' 2023 Aspirants'

List of champions

PBA SeasonConferenceChampionSeriesRunner-UpWinning coachConference MVPTeam
NLEX 2-0 Cebuana Lhuillier
NLEX 2-0 Freego Cebuana Lhuillier
NLEX 2-0 NLEX
NLEX 2-0 NLEX
Blackwater 2-0 NLEX
NLEX 2-0 NLEX
NLEX 2-0 NLEX
Hapee 2-0 Hapee
Café France 2-1 Edgar Macaraya Cebuana Lhuillier
Phoenix 3-2 Phoenix
Phoenix 2-1 Phoenix
Cignal HD - SBU 2-1 Racal TileCignal HD - San Beda
Cignal HD 2-0 Cignal HD
Zark's Burgers - LPU 2-1 Zark's Burgers - LPU
Go for Gold 3-2 Che'Lu Bar and Grill Charles Tiu Che'Lu Bar and Grill
Aspirants'Cignal HD - ADMU 3-1 Cignal HD - Ateneo
BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare 2-1 Marinerong Pilipino Stevenson Tiu Marinerong Pilipino
Aspirants'Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Aspirants'EcoOil–La Salle 2-1 Marinerong Pilipino Marinerong Pilipino
EcoOil–La Salle 2-0
2024 EcoOil–La Salle 2-0 Gian Nazario Michael Philips EcoOil–La Salle

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Joble . Rey . PBA Developmental League draws 14 teams, 3 PBL squads jump ship . 2 July 2022 . GMA News . 16 February 2011 . en.
  2. News: Without six teams, no PBL — for now . 2 July 2022 . GMA News . 16 February 2011 . en.
  3. News: D-League second season unfolds with 11-team cast . 2 July 2022 . ABS-CBN News . The Philippine Star . 12 October 2011.
  4. Web site: PBA D-League Rookie Draft Set . Philippine Daily Inquirer . https://web.archive.org/web/20130827132120/http://pba.inquirer.net/29253/pba-d-league-rookie-draft-set . 27 August 2013 . en . 24 August 2013.
  5. News: Villar . Joey Villar . Beltran . Nelson . PBA D-League to go nationwide . 2 July 2022 . The Philippine Star . 11 August 2015.
  6. News: Willie Marcial reveals plan of turning PBA D-League regional . 20 January 2022 . Dugout Philippines . 16 January 2022.
  7. News: Bacnis . Justine . PBA D-League fate to be known by August . 18 November 2020 . Tiebreaker Times . 14 July 2020.
  8. News: PBA D-League season kanselado na Abante TNT Breaking News . 18 November 2020 . Abante . 29 September 2020 . fil.
  9. News: Leongson . Randolph . Is the D-League still part of PBA's plans? Kume responds . 21 January 2022 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . 20 January 2022 . en.
  10. News: Leongson . Randolph . D-League exec assures teams tournament fees won't lapse . 2 July 2022 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . 9 June 2020 . en.