WANG’S Basketball @ 26-Letran tests the mettle of Adalem Construction-St. Clare as the two college champions raise the curtains for the PBA D-League comeback after a two-year hiatus on Thursday.

The Knights and the Saints will serve as the first salvo for the Aspirants’ Cup at 10:30 a.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Centro Escolar University and AMA Online, meanwhile, will face off in the other opening day game at 12:30 p.m.

EcoOil-La Salle, Builders Warehouse-UST, Apex Fuel-San Sebastian, and Marinerong Pilipino complete the eight-team field.

With the core of two-time NCAA champion Letran, Letran will be led by guard Fran Yu leading the way, while Adalem Construction, built around standouts from NAASCU titlists St. Clare, will be bannered by Johnsherick Estrada.

Only the top six teams will advance to the playoffs, with the top two squads earning an outright semifinals berth.

Teams ranked third to sixth will have to go through the quarterfinals, with the No. 3 and 4 teams enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage.

The semifinals and finals are best-of-three affairs.

Games will be held every Tuesdays, with triple-headers set at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig from 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; and on Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Games Thursday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
10:30 a.m. – Wang’s-Letran vs Adalem-St. Clare
12:30 p.m. – CEU vs AMA

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado