TEAMS parading intact rosters loom as the favorites in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup making a comeback this Thursday after a two-year hiatus.
Of the eight squads that answered the call, Wangs Basketball@26-Letran, Eco Oil-La Salle, and Adalem Construction St. Clare are considered among the teams to beat in the developmental league that had been shelved the past two years due to pandemic.
The Knights are coming off back-to-back championships in the NCAA, the Green Archers are out to bounce back from their semis defeat to the UP Maroons in the UAAP, while the Saints just won a fifth straight title in the NAASCU.
St. Clare coach Jinino Manansala downplayed the chances of the Saints and pointed to Letran, La Salle, and even Marinerong Pilipino as the top three contenders for the crown.
“Intact na teams ang mga ‘yan at mataas na liga ang nilalaruan nila,” said the son of former PBA Rookie of the Year Jimmy Manansala in the Philippine Sportswriters Association online Forum yesterday. “Pero siyempre in fairness sa ibang teams, lalaban din ang mga ‘yan. Hindi naman kami sumali dito para tumakbo-takbo lang.”
Gian Nazario, deputy of La Salle mentor Derrick Pumaren, refused to label the Archers as contenders, stressing half of their team are rookies, while regulars Mark Nonoy, Evan Nellie, and Deschon Wilson are not likely to see action as they try to focus on their studies.
“We’re really focusing on our team development and we’ll try to absorb every experience we can get in this tournament knowing na mataas naman ang level of competition in the D-League,” he said.
PBA Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro and Apex Fuel-San Sebastian coach Egay Macaraya joined Manansala and Nazario in the weekly session presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, Unilever, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
Macaraya pointed out that teams with imports also have good chances of contending for the title.
