MANILA, Philippines—NLEX, the undisputed PBA D-League champion, will have its hands full as the league looks to expand to 12 teams this coming 2012-2013 season, which unfolds this October.
Arellano University, Jose Rizal University-Air21, HTC Philippines and Informatics have already sent letters of intent to the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
The four applicants and mainstays NLEX, Big Chill, Blackwater, Boracay Rum, Café France, Cebuana Lhuillier, Erase Plantcenta and Cagayan have until September 15 to pay the entry fee and confirm their participation in the tournament.
“The intention of these new applicants to be a part of the coming season of the PBA D-League only goes to show that the league has established a market that is acceptable to our basketball-loving fans,” said PBA Commissioner Chito Salud.
Salud also said that the participation of new teams will generate new rivalry, create new stars and offer exciting games for the fledgling league.
The Road Warriors, whose main men Cliff Hodge, Chris Ellis and Calvin Abueva turned pro, are set to parade new faces such as Ateneo’s versatile forward Nico Salva and seven-foot teammate Greg Slaughter.
The Superchargers, who got swept in the Foundation Cup Finals by the Road Warriors last June, also lost key players in Alex Mallari, Keith Jensen and Jewel Ponferrada after getting selected in the 2012 PBA Draft as well. Mallari went on to be a surprise third overall pick by Petron.
But despite it, Big Chill coach Robert Sison remained optimistic.
“We based our recruitment on the positions we lost so I think we’ll still be competitive,” Sison said.