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. 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