PHILIPPINE Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner Chito Salud expects the D-League could ably fill in the void left by the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

“The competition is very fierce. You can see everyone, from the players and even the coaches and owners, giving their all in every game," said Salud, referring to the 13 teams that have joined the D-League.

Salud also believes that the D-League will be a continuing endeavor of the PBA since

Board had already approved residency requirements for local players and Fil-foreigners who must all pass through the D-League before being allowed to apply for the PBA

Draft. 

Salud already sees several players seeing action in the D-League who could be making a mark in the PBA soon – most of them rookies, certainly some of the Fil-foreigners, and even free agents who are making good use of this new lease on life given to them.

Also, the presence of so many head coaches with PBA head coaching experience like Leo Isaac of Black Water, Leo Austria of Freego Jeans and Boyet Fernandez of NLEX gives the wannabe pros so much useful guidance, and also shows college players just how much more work they need to put into their games to be PBA material.

“It’s a testing ground for everyone,” says Salud, “which was really what we envisioned the PBA D-League to be.”