PBA's D-League: Your thoughts?

[James Ty III]

Depends if they will be absorbed by the other PBA teams as free agents. The Barako leave of absence is subject to the PBA board approval during their meeting on Jan. 25.

[cheche_bureche]

Now that Barako Bull will be giving way to Smart Gilas in the coming conference will we be seeing the Barako players in the D League?

aww what will happen to Lordy?

[seether05]

aww what will happen to Lordy?

Lordy is currently being eyed by Bmeg, im pretty sure alot of teams would want this guy on their roster.

[torchie82]

PBL breaks one-year spell with 6-team cast

Pharex, Agri Nurture Inc. (ANI), Excelroof and Cobra are back while newcomers Hobe Bihon and Cafe France complete the field in the country’s premier amateur league which opens shop on Feb. 26.

PBL chairman Ding Camua of Pharex yesterday made the announcement on the PBL’s return.

“We’re answering to the clamor to revive the PBL,” said Camua. “We recognize the need to bring the league back. We know there should be a middle league where the collegiate players can develop their skills further before turning pro.”

******************

Obviously, no PBL - PBA convergence for the possible PBA D-League. It'll be interesting if the D-League will push through given the recent development.

[KevinDurant]

The PBL will also hold a draft. Competition for players against the proposed D-League.

[torchie82]

The PBL will also hold a draft. Competition for players against the proposed D-League.

Exactly. And this news of PBL resurrection came up officially today where the PBA Board of Governors held their very important meeting.

Instead of making one united amateur league here comes a couple of them.

[torchie82]

OWNERS OKAY SMART GILAS FOR 2ND CONF, TELECAST STAYS ON VHF, D-LEAGUE A GO


Barako Bull is out while Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas is in.

The formation of PBA Developmental League will push through while the proposed PBA coliseum is
still up in the air.

And most important to the PBA team owners, they decided to keep the telecast of PBA games on VHF
(very high frequency) channel.

The pro league made these decisions in an important conference at the Edsa Shangri-La Plaza Hotel
in Mandaluyong City Tuesday.

The day started with a meeting among the PBA governors followed by the landmark confab among the
PBA team owners – giants in Philippine business.

The team owners approved Barako Bull’s application for a leave of absence and Smart Gilas’
takeover in the second conference.

Participation by the national training team in the third conference is optional.

The esteemed gentlemen also decided that the league will stick with a VHF channel as TV coveror and
directed commissioner Chito Salud to make his recommendation on the proposed PBA coliseum in three
months.

“To me the question is whether it’s financially worth it,” said Salud.

Everyone sounded satisfied with the meeting.

“It was cordial, productive and informative,” said Salud.

“We had expectations and I was not disappointed,” said Smart-PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan,
attending the meeting as PBA team owner and president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

The league Board, in its own meeting earlier in the day, gave the nod on the PBA D-League.

The league commissioner said he would talk with PBL clubs and ask if they would like to join the
D-League. But regardless of what happens in the meeting, Salud said they would push through with the
D-League launch in March.

As in the case of the Northern Consolidated Cement team in the 80s, Smart Gilas was allowed to vie
for the championship in the second conference which runs for three months starting Feb. 18.

In the league’s return to three-conference format, the second conference will again be known as
the Commissioners Cup and the third conference the Governors Cup.

Barako Bull was the last team to rule the Commissioner’s Cup in 2005. It won’t be able to
defend the crown with its leave.

Smart Gilas takes Barako’s slot but will play according to PBA rules, limited to a 14-man roster.
SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas presented a 17-man lineup including new training pool prospects
Kiefer Ravena, Amer Baser, Junmar Fajardo and Bobby Ray Parks.

Salud said 11 teams might play in the Governors Cup, depending on whether Barako is ready to return
and on Smart Gilas’ schedule.

All team owners were present in the meeting except Barako Bull’s George Chua.

The Barako players will be put on a dispersal draft, giving them the chance to play for the other
teams in the second conference. They return to their mother team later.

During its leave, the Barako team won’t have a share in the league’s gate receipts.

As expected, the team owners put more attention on the TV coverage.

“I was given specific directive that the next coveror would be able to promote PBA the best way
to reach younger base of fans,” said Salud.

“TV is the most important because it brings the PBA games to the living room. We’ll do with
VHF; we have to be practical,” said Alaska Milk owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu.

VHF (Very High Frequency) counts free channels like ABS-CBN 2, NBN-4, TV-5, GMA-7, RPN-9 and
IBC-13. The PBA practically closed its door on Studio-23 and QTV-11 as solo coveror but kept the
floor open for airing on dual platforms.

Solar TV’s contract as exclusive TV coveror of the PBA expires at the end of the current season.
It has informed the PBA it won’t seek a contract extension.

PBA D-League a go. PBL resurrects...

[torchie82]

Board OKs D-League
The board also approved plans for the PBA's Developmental League (D-League), which is tentatively set to unveil in March this year.

"There are four teams competing in the PBL which are interested to join the D-League. The ideal is eight teams, but we can start it with at least six," said Salud. "But no matter what happens, it’s a go."

Patterned after the National Development League (NBDL) in the United States, the D-League will serve as an in-between league for amateur players looking for playing opportunities after college ball.

"This will serve its purpose as a developmental league, open for players 17 to 24 years old," added Salud. - KY, JVP, GMANews.TV

[torchie82]

D-League meet draws 11 firms
At least 11 companies have shown interest in playing in the PBA’s first-ever farm league and all their representatives will attend Monday’s meeting with members of the league board.

Maynilad of Manny V. Pangilinan, who also owns Talk ‘N Text and Meralco in the PBA, the University of the Philippines, the North Luzon Expressway, and a company represented by Lambert Ramos are just four of the firms interested in joining the D-League.

Two other former PBL teams, which requested not to be named at the moment, will also be in the meeting.

[Kaede Rukawa]

TEAMS LINE UP FOR D-LEAGUE INAUGURAL TOURNEY



The inaugural PBA Developmental League tournament kicks off next month with participants sure to be
more than what organizers pegged as “ideal.”

In Monday’s well-attended organizational meeting, at least three teams have already confirmed
their intention to join and more are sure to follow suit before the Feb. 15 deadline issued by the
PBA.

Representatives of the Manny V. Pangilinan-controlled Maynilad and Metro Pacific Tollways and the
Powerade-backed University of the Philippines have confirmed their participation in the inaugurals
tentatively slated March 15 to June 9.

Bernard Yang of Hapee Toothpaste and Patrick Aquino of Ever Bilena were also present, with each
expressing their intention to confirm their own respective participation.

Also in attendance were Avelino Relucio of PC Gilmore, Riley Winpeco of Handyfix/Max Bond, Roman
Ong of Ani-FCA and Bimbo Gaviola and Kenneth Duremdes of Pacific Pipes.

Those who did not make it were representatives of Toyota-Otis and the Cebu-based Cebuana Lhuillier
and M. Lhuillier.

“Ang maganda kasi dito sa D-League, P300,000 lang ang franchise fee at around P2 million lang ang
maintenance ng team. Hamak ang kamurahan sa ibang liga,” said Yang, who managed the Teeth
Sparklers in the PBL.

The D-League is being put up as honing ground for future pro players and the PBA has also came up
with other ways to make it easier and cheaper for those who are interested to join.

The PBA had initially pegged the ideal number of participants to be from six to eight teams.

Teams backed by their PBA counterparts, such as Maynilad, Metro Pacific and Powerade-UP do not need
to pay any franchise fee while those linking up with any pro squad need only fork over P150,000.

In the meeting at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City, PBA commissioner Chito Salud first
explained to the parties the benefits of joining before handing the floor over to Operations chief
Rickie Santos and Special Assistant Willie Marcial, who both outlined the projected tournament
format and rules.

If the final list of participants is pegged at eight teams or less, there will be Tuesday and
Thursday doubleheaders per week. However, if the number goes beyond nine, Saturday doubleheaders
will also be included.

For sure, one playdate will be on a fixed venue and another day on a rotating basis on different
Metro Manila campuses.

The teams are free to choose players aged 17 to 26 and, for those who want to, teams are free to
recruit from anywhere they want.

All players who wish to join the PBA Annual Draft must have seen action in the D-League before they
are given the go-signal to be part of the Draft pool. Starting next year, Fil-foreign players must
have played in at least four D-League conferences to be eligible for the PBA Draft. Local players,
for their part, have to play in the D-League for at least one conference.

[torchie82]

PBA D-League unfurls March 15

Around 14 companies have expressed interest in joining the inaugural staging of the Philippine Basketball Association’s Developmental League (PBA D-League). Three of them confirmed their participation when the league opens shop on March 15, 2011.

PBA operations manager Rickie Santos confirmed the news shortly after league commissioner Chito Salud met with the team representatives Monday at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City.

“We have set a deadline of until Feb. 15 for teams to submit their letter of intent," said Santos.

Teams which have no existing franchise in the PBA will only need to pay P300,000 in a tournament that will last until June 9. PBA teams, which will form its farm squads in the D-League will be free of charge.

So far, three teams with existing PBA squads – Maynilad and Metro Paficic Tollways, which is being controlled by businessman/sportsman Manuel V. Pangilinan, and Powerade Tigers-University of the Philippines of Coca-Cola – have assured their participation in this tournament open for players 17 to 26 years old.

The team representatives who were present in the meeting were Avelino Relucio of PC Gilmore, Enrico Lopez and Peejay Barua of Maynilad, BJ Manalo of Fitwell Nutracueticals, Inc., Bernard Yang of Hapee Toothpaste, Riley Winpeco of Handyfix/Max Bond, Christopher Lizo and Ronald Dularte of Metro Pacific Tollways, Roman Ong Jr. of ANI-FCA, Ricky Dandan and JB Baylon of Powerade, Bimbo Gaviola/Kenneth Duremdes of Pacific Pipes, Patrick Aquino of Black Water of Ever Bilena and telecommunications executive and former PBA commissioner candidate Lambert Ramos, who represented a team which he has yet to disclose.

“The good thing about this league is mura lang yung entry fee, which is P300,000. Hindi ka gagastos rito ng P2-million in maintaining a team," said Yang. - Rey Joble, GMA News

[Guyagila]

Barako Bull should allow its young displaced players to compete in the D League. It's not their fault that management decided to take a leave of absence this conference.

[Jay P. Mercado]

So long as the Barako Energy Coffee Masters will pay the players' back wages and will continue paying them until their contract expires, then everything would be above board and legal. The problem is that it appears Barako is incapable of doing so, making it difficult for the players to collect their deserved wages.

Commissioner Salud is correct when he said that any Barako player with a live contract cannot play for any other league other than the PBA. The only way out is if the said player offers to rescind his contract with Barako, and that the latter and the league approve of such. Rescinding one's contract would mean that the team will not be contractually bound to pay for his remaining salary until the end of his contract, thereby releasing him to free agency.

Once he becomes a free agent, that's the time when he can look for other teams to play in any league. But playing in the D-League would have some consequences. First, the age limit of 26 years old, thereby allowing only half a dozen players to play for the D-League. Second, the maximum salary of the D-League may not approximate the player's salary from Barako. Hence, the player will stand to lose potential income from this decision.

It is critical that Commissioner Salud puts his foot down and ensures that Barako pays all the back wages of their players. And that they consistently pay for the monthly salaries of those players with live contracts. I don't know the financial condition of the team, regardless, for the players' sake, it is imperative that they get paid. Whether they play or not...

[James Ty III]

The PBA paid the salaries of the Galerie Dominique players in 1983 after the Coseteng franchise lost money. I'm sure the league will do the same thing if Barako does not pay its players.

[05coach]

I think it will still be Barako, which will pay the salary and the PBA will take action into it by getting the money from Barako's equity.

[Guyagila]

I think it will still be Barako, which will pay the salary and the PBA will take action into it by getting the money from Barako's equity.

So with the PBA pulling out Barako's league funds to pay everybody could it be safe to say the team is not coming back? If so why not just pay off their debts in full to allow the players to see action in the upcoming D League which is PBA sanctioned anyway?

Maybe at least for this conference they could accommodate the displaced players by relaxing the age limit. It's a win-win situation for everybody as the teams will be able to pick up more experienced guys and at the same time it could be good exposure and cause for some of the players to get called back up to the PBA sooner.

And since it was Manny Pangilinan's team which took over Barako's slot in this conference he could be the one to take in the "orphaned" Barakos as it has been reported that he is fielding two teams in the D League next month.

[James Ty III]

In the NBA, even old players are playing in the D-League, like Antoine Walker, a former Boston Celtic and Miami Heat. So that should be an example for the PBA D-League to follow.

[05coach]

The only difference is that in the PBA's D-League, they have set an age limit of 17 to 26 years old, which means old players are out. As for the fact that Barako will pay its players from its equity, it can still compete in the 3rd conference. The team still has some debit accounts from the PBA, like the TV shares. Although Barako is not included in the gate receipts of the second conference.

[torchie82]

Powerade, MVP-backed teams head D-League cast

A total of 10 teams led by Powerade Tigers-University of the Philippines and Maynilad and Metro Pacific Tollways of businessman/sports Manuel V. Pangilinan will see action in the inaugural staging of the Philippine Basketball Association's Developmental League (D-League).

This was disclosed by PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud to GMA News.

"It's a go. We're going to have a 10-team cast in the D-League," said Salud, who added that the D-League opens shop on March 12 at The Arena in San Juan.

The PBA Commissioner's Office didn't reveal the 10 competing teams at this time, but already assured the participation of these three squads owned by companies with existing PBA franchises.

Powerade, which is owned by Coca-Cola, will bring in the core of the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP, to be handled by newly-installed mentor Ricky Dandan.

Dandan is also an assistant coach of the Tigers in the pro league.

Maynilad and Metro Pacific are two teams which are owned by Pangilinan, also the team owner of Talk 'N Text and Meralco.

Any of the following companies — PC Gilmore, Fitwell Nutraceuticals, Inc., Handyfix/Max Bond, ANI-FCA, Pacific Pipes, Black Water of Ever Bilena — which were all represented during the meeting held last week at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City, are likely to complete the ideal 10-team cast of this inaugural event patterned after the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) in the United States.

But Hapee Toothpaste, a long-time supporter of local basketball, begged off from joining the event. This was confirmed by team executive Bernard Yang.

"Hindi po kami sasali sa D-League," said Yang in a text message.

Hapee was a former backer of the all-pro national team in the 2002 Busan Asian Games. Prior to that, the team under the Lamoiyan Corporation was a long-time participant and multi-titled champion in the Philippine Basketball League.

Cebuana Lhuillier eyes cage comeback via D-League

Another possible member of D-League is Cebuana Lhuillier, which for a while was a staunch backer of local basketball, but has shifted its attention to softball and tennis.

Cebuana Lhuillier executive and former amateur cage star Danny Francisco said in a telephone interview that their possible comeback in the basketball scene via the D-League is now up for approval by the company's chief executive officer, Jean Henri Lhuillier.

"We're still evaluating whether we will join D-League or not," said Francisco, member of the back-to-back Ateneo Eagles champion squad in 1987-88. "Basketball is one of the sports which we want to revisit."

Although the deadline for the submission of a letter of intent was until Tuesday, February 15, Salud said Cebuana Lhuillier has requested for another day of extension before comfirming its participation.

"We are open. I'm optimistic they (Cebuana Lhuillier) will join," added Salud.

Cebuana Lhuillier backed the participation of the amateur-laden national squad that won the gold medal in the men's basketball event of the 2003 Southeast Asian Games. The company also participated in the short-lived Metropolitan Basketball Association, bankrolling the Cebu Gems.

Cebuana Lhuillier also won a championship in the PBL in 2006, under coach Luigi Trillo.

Curiously, the company was the same backer of the national team that lost to a local selection from Parañaque in 2005, triggering reforms in cage leadership in the country. - Rey Joble, KY, GMA News

*****************

Two teams already for MVP in D-League, haven't herad any news if an SMC team will be fielded.

[spongklong]

PBA D-League a go. PBL resurrects...

looks like the resurrection of PBL will not push through at all..

from twitter:
@nelbeltran Nolan Bernardino abandoned by cobra, pharex hours after the announcement of PBL revival in march