PBA to turn D-League into regional competition

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Basketball,

PBA to turn D-League into regional competition

January 16, 2022 Ed Andaya 686 views

THE PBA D-League, the official minor league organization managed by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) since 2011, could be turning regional soon.

While the plan initially failed to take off as scheduled, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial believes the idea of turning the D-League into a regional league with city-based teams could finally come into fruition.

“There are suggestion to make the PBA a regional league. Pero sa PBA D-League, yan ang plano namin. May mga kausap na kaming teams sa Metro Manila, Southern and Northern Luzon and Visayas and Mindanao,” said Marcial in his guest appearance in the pilot episode of the sports program, “Sports on Air Weekly”.

“Dapat magsisimula kami sa Laoag City, pero hindi natuloy dahil inabot ng election nun. May kausap tayo sa Visayas, pero inaayos pa ang logistics. So yun regional, dapat sa D-League. Tignan natin kung ano ang feel, ano ang feedbacks. Kung maganda, dahan-dahan natin i-adapt sa PBA,” explained Marcial.

The 60-year-old PBA official, who succeeded Chito Narvasa as comissioner in 2018, claimed the PBA D-League will only begin right after the UAAP and NCAA seasons.

“Ang D-League syempre magsisimula kapag natapos na ang UAAP at NCAA kasi nga school-based tayo. Yung UAAP, gusto nga daw nila ang D-League. Hindi naman tayo kasabay nila. Hintayin natin sila magsimula at pagkatapos ng liga nila, saka tayo mag D-League.”

He clarified that the D-League is not a professional league, like the the PBA.

“It’s a purely an amateur league.Wala kaming supervising body na nag-gabay sa amin. Pero dahil under pa rin ng PBA. kampante sila dahil PBA din ang nagpapatakbo. OK lang sa PSC.”

Marcial also reiterated the PBA’s intention to help both the UAAP and NCAA, especially in ensuring the safety of their student-players.

“Kausap ko lang ang UAAP last week. Yung may hawak sa La Salle na sina Nonong Calanog at si Atty. Rebo (Saguisag). Nagtatanong sila ng protocols. Sabi namin maglalagay kami ng team para mag-tuloy na kaagad kasi matagal na naka-set ang protocols na ipadala sa CHED at sa IATF.”

“Same with NCAA. Humihingi ng tulong kung ano magandang gawin sa mga safety protocols. Ang sa akin lang, sa basketball, kung ano ang maitutulong natin, tutulungan natin.”