A plan to organize a basketball developmental league under the umbrella of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is currently in the works and its launching could possibly take place next year. PBA Commissioner Chito Salud said he and his staff are now in the final stages of completing the blue print that would give birth to the ambitious project aimed primarily at developing basketball in new
areas of competition.
Asia’s first play-for-pay league enthusiastically pursued the idea of putting up a farm league in the wake of the unexpected disintegration of the Philippine Basketball League, for a long time the PBA’s source of potential candidates for its annual draft. Apart from that, the proposed PBA D-League will also serve as an avenue to promote the growth of the sport in grass root levels while discovering prospects for the professional league.
“The PBA is not just about being the country’s top sports entertainment league. Our constitution mandates it to be involved in the development of Philippine basketball and to encourage greater participation in the game by opening new areas of competition,” Salud explained.
The PBA D-League, he said, is a step toward that direction. “In my point of view the PBA needs an amateur league like the Developmental League for its continuedsuccess,” offered PBA chairman Rene Pardo, who represents B-Meg Derby Ace in the Board of Governors. “At the same time, organizing the D evelopmental League will help enhance the skills and talent of players 17-26 years old in the grass root level who could be future PBA stars.”
This early, Salud said, some of the league’s corporate members have expressed interest in putting up a developmental team in the event the proposed PBA D-League gets the approval of the Board. The D-League will be open to other interested ballclubs not belonging to the PBA. “The PBA’s member corporations want to invest in our youth by hosting a 17-26 year old development league where young Filipino basketball players can develop their skills and hone the talents. This is where they can pursue their dreams of becoming professional players.
“We are finalizing the rules and tournament format for the D-League, and as soon as the Board of Governors gives its clearance, we shall launch it in 2011,” Salud said.
“I support the plans of Commissioner Chito Salud and the PBA Board to organize the PBA D-League by January 2011 especially if the objective is to push the development of basketball in the grassroots and LGU level,” said Talk N’ Text Governor Ricky Vargas. [pr]
