A TEAM vying for the same success of six-time champion NLEX and a squad owned by Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao banner the field when the fifth season of the PBA D-League unfolds on Oct. 27.
Telecommunication tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, who owns the pro-bound NLEX squad, will field another amateur team as his Metro Pacific Investment Corp. submitted a letter of intent to join the PBA’s farm tournament.
Metro Pacific noted in its letter that it will field a school-based team, possibly NCAA champion San Beda, just like in NLEX’s last title romp.
Pacquiao, who’s set to debut as head coach of Kia Motors in the PBA, also listed his MP Hotel in the 12-team field of the season-opening Aspirants Cup.
Cafe France, Boracay Rum, Cebuana Lhuillier, Cagayan Valley, Jumbo Plastic and Wangs Basketball will see action anew, while Lyceum, San Sebastian, AMA University and Racal Motorsales Corp. will be among the five school-based squads.
The final list of participating teams will be released after the teams’ tournament fee deadline on Sept. 1.