Teams that will parade an intact roster loom as the favorites for the championship of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup that returns on Thursday after a two-year hiatus.
Of the eight that answered the call, Wangs Basketball@26-Letran, Eco Oil-La Salle, and Adalem Construction St. Clare have been prominently mentioned among the teams to beat in the developmental league which had been shelved the past two years due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The Knights are coming off back-to-back championships in the NCAA, the Green Archers fell short of making the UAAP finals after losing to eventual champions the UP Fighting Maroons in the semifinals ladder, while the Saints just won a fifth straight title in the NAASCU.
St. Clare coach Jinino Manansala downplayed the Saints’ status as favorites, but did mention Letran, La Salle, and even Marinerong Pilipino as the top three contenders for the crown.
“Intact na teams ang mga yan at mataas na liga ang nilalaruan nila,” said the son of former PBA Rookie of the Year Jimmy Manansala in the virtual Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday. “Pero siyempre in fairness sa ibang teams, lalaban din ang mga yan. Hindi naman kami sumali dito para tumakbo-takbo lang.”
Gian Nazario, deputy of La Salle mentor Derrick Pumaren, refused to label the Archers as contenders, stressing half of the team they are parading are composed of rookies, while regulars Mark Nonoy, Evan Nellie, and Deschon Wilson are not likely to see action as they try to focus more on their studies.
PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro and Apex Fuel-San Sebastian coach Egay Macaraya joined Manansala and Nazario in the weekly session presented by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, Unilever, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Other than an intact lineup, Macaraya pointed out teams with imports also have good chances of contending for the title.
“Yung mga all-Filipino teams na sumasali sa D-League meron kaming disadvantage,” he said about the Stags. “Pero maganda ang competition diyan and maraming matututunan ang players ko so who knows, baka matalo namin yung iba. Yung teams to beat, yung mga may imports siguro.”
The Saints have one in Babacar Ndong who will team up with Johnsherick Estrada, the reigning Rookie-MVP of NAASCU.
Castro said AMA Online, Builders Warehouse-UST, and CEU Scorpions complete the eight-team field in the season-opening tournament last ruled by Cignal-Ateneo in 2019.
He explained the format as a single round robin, with the top six advancing to the next round. The top two gain outright berths in the semifinals, while the third to six teams play in the quarterfinals, with nos. 3 and 4 holding a twice-to-beat advantage.
The opening games pit Wang Basketball @26-Letran against Adalem Construction-St. Clare right away at 10:30 a.m., followed by the CEU Scorpions-AMA Online clash at 12:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Games will be played Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday either at the Ynares Arena in Pasig and the Big Dome, although two game days have been scheduled twice on Wednesday (July 27 and August 3).
The matches are open free to the public, according to Castro, provided they bring proof of their vaccination cards.
