Bakers, Aguilas clash in 2016 Foundation Cup opener

Cafe France Bakers. PBA IMAGES

Cafe France starts its title-retention bid against Topstar ZC Mindanao in the opener of the 2016 PBA D-League Foundation Cup on June 2 at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The Bakers are motivated to defend their title after losing to Phoenix in the Finals last conference, and are expected to make a huge splash when they battle the Aguilas at 2 p.m. The main game features Tanduay Rhum and AMA Online Education at 4 p.m.

The Accelerators will play their first game against the Rhum Masters, who are eyeing to build on their late surge last conference, on June 7, the same day the Racal Tile Masters take on the Titans.

Newcomer Blustar Detergent, composed of members from Asean Basketball League champion Westports Malaysian Dragons, will make its debut on June 13. Dragons’ Filipino head coach Ariel Vanguardia, though, had said his team won’t have the services of Fil-Canadian sharpshooter Matthew Wright and Fil-American point guard Jason Brickman.

READ: PBA D-League: No Brickman, Wright for Blustar

Vanguardia, who also serves as an assistant coach of the Blackwater Elite in the PBA, said Wright and Brickman are leaning towards playing in Europe.

The anticipated rematch between Cafe France and Phoenix is slated on August 4.

All seven teams will go through a double-round elimination phase. The top two finishers at the end of the elimination round will have a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals. A best-of-three Finals duel will decide the champion.